Piecing Me Together

Watson, Renee.  Piecing Me Together. 2017. Bloomsbury Press. New York, NY.

Jade lives with her mother and uncle in the projects in Portland. She attends a prestigious private school on a scholarship.  She is also one of the few black students in the program. She is an artist who loves to collage. 

While Jade enjoys the opportunities she is being given, she resents feeling that she has become a project of the school.  Given opportunities to help her improve herself.  But when she is given a referral to a Mentorship program things begin to change. She finds her voice. She discovers that she can make a difference in her world. 

What I like about this book:

I love how this book takes a look at the micro aggressions that Jade faces in her everyday life, at school, at the mall, and out in the community. The author does a wonderful job of not only pointing out the micro aggressions but also making the reader aware of just how egregious they are through the powerful voice of Jade.

Most of all, I love how Jade harnesses her energy as an artist and the voice she has found with the aid of the mentorship program to hold a huge event with the aid of the mentors to hold a community event to benefit a young black girl who was beaten by police.

I'd like to note that I had a very difficult time writing this book up.

There is so much going on in the plot of this book, that I felt I couldn't write up a good book talk without basically giving away the entire novel.  There is so much more to this mentorship program, and the growth that Jade shows, and how her relationships with her friends and family changes as she grows is one of the things I enjoyed most. 

Seriously, you need to read this book.

Author’s Website: https://www.reneewatson.net/

Book Awards:

Coretta Scott King Award, Newberry Honor Book