Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Remember Us

Woodson, Jacqueline. Remember Us. 2023. 192p. ISBN 9780399545467.


Old buildings in Sage's neighborhood are going up in flames the summer following her 6th grade. Sage loves basketball, and she would rather shoot hoops with the guys than spend time with the girls she has known her whole life. Except, it seems like relationships between boys and girls are now changing, and Sage feels at a disadvantage. And with so many fires happening, Sage is worried her home is next. When Freddy moves into the neighborhood, Sage is thrilled to finally have a friend that gets her.

As they spend time on the court and hanging out, they observe their neighborhood and how quickly it seems to be changing. Sage is better than most of the boys on the court, but a bully steals her ball and makes her question herself, Sage does not tell Freddy. Is she an athlete, someone who excels at basketball, or is she a girl, someone who wears makeup and fusses with her hair. Sage questions her identity, wondering where she fits in this expanding universe.

When a fire destroys a nearby home and kills one of her friends, Sage and Freddy are there for each other. As summer comes to a close, and as Sage prepares to move to a new home away from the neighborhood and its fires, she must come to terms that the future is never static, and the only constant is change. 

Focused on daily life and memories, Remember Us nevertheless explores universal truths about identity and remembering, effectively conveying the many transitions Sage finds herself in. Fans of growing up novels will appreciate this short poetic read.

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