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xangemthelibrarian's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Three words come to mind when I think of this story as a whole: Powerful. Authentic. Tender.
Jas Hammonds has created a truly wonderful story that does not shy away from grief, yet still manages to gently point out beauty amidst the pain.
Avery Anderson, a Black queer high schooler, has been suddenly and unwillingly uprooted from her home in Washington DC and moved to Bardell, Georgia to help her estranged, dying grandmother, Mama Letty. Though Mama Letty is frosty and guarded, and Avery's only plan is to get in, get out, and keep to herself, Avery quickly becomes curious about her last surviving grandparent and the life she lived. As Mama Letty slowly opens up, Avery uncovers more and more of Bardell's racist and homophobic history. Then there's Simone. Beautiful, vibrant Simone whom Avery falls hard for. And Jade, the daughter of the richest man in town, whom Avery befriends alongside Simone. Suddenly "get in, get out, and keep to yourself" is a lot more complicated.
Avery is such a well-written character and is greatly supported by Hammonds' ability to describe places and emotions vividly. Readers will feel everything Avery feels deeply: the pain, hurt, love, anger, and hope. While reading, and even now thinking back on the story, I feel like Avery is a real person, somewhere out there in this world. Just like Mama Letty and Dr. Zora Anderson, Avery's mom, feel real to me as well. And it's these characters who really breathe life into this story. Their reactions, especially Avery's, to uncovering the unhealed wounds of the past are so human, you can't help but hurt with them. And Hammonds has this wonderful way of weaving hope and healing into this story that holds so much hurt.
I am very excited for this book to come out. It's a wonderful debut by a wonderful author, and I'm sure it will touch many of the people who read it.
Jas Hammonds has created a truly wonderful story that does not shy away from grief, yet still manages to gently point out beauty amidst the pain.
Avery Anderson, a Black queer high schooler, has been suddenly and unwillingly uprooted from her home in Washington DC and moved to Bardell, Georgia to help her estranged, dying grandmother, Mama Letty. Though Mama Letty is frosty and guarded, and Avery's only plan is to get in, get out, and keep to herself, Avery quickly becomes curious about her last surviving grandparent and the life she lived. As Mama Letty slowly opens up, Avery uncovers more and more of Bardell's racist and homophobic history. Then there's Simone. Beautiful, vibrant Simone whom Avery falls hard for. And Jade, the daughter of the richest man in town, whom Avery befriends alongside Simone. Suddenly "get in, get out, and keep to yourself" is a lot more complicated.
Avery is such a well-written character and is greatly supported by Hammonds' ability to describe places and emotions vividly. Readers will feel everything Avery feels deeply: the pain, hurt, love, anger, and hope. While reading, and even now thinking back on the story, I feel like Avery is a real person, somewhere out there in this world. Just like Mama Letty and Dr. Zora Anderson, Avery's mom, feel real to me as well. And it's these characters who really breathe life into this story. Their reactions, especially Avery's, to uncovering the unhealed wounds of the past are so human, you can't help but hurt with them. And Hammonds has this wonderful way of weaving hope and healing into this story that holds so much hurt.
I am very excited for this book to come out. It's a wonderful debut by a wonderful author, and I'm sure it will touch many of the people who read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing and Racism
Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, Death, Murder, and Child abuse
Minor: Infidelity
marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
When her family learns that her grandmother is dying, Avery is uprooted from her life in D.C. and transplanted to her mom’s tiny hometown in Georgia. She leaves behind her college-obsessed friends (and ex) just before starting her senior year in a town where she knows no one, including her own grandmother. Years of lost time span between three generations of Black women, and Avery is determined to unearth the divisive secrets that color her family and finally get to know her impenetrable grandmother, all while getting to know herself. A debut novel about who and what is worth remembering with a special focus on Black queer love in the South, We Deserve Monuments is unforgettable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Grief, Lesbophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Classism, Cancer, Hate crime, Medical content, Murder, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Terminal illness
Minor: Vomit, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Police brutality, and Sexual content
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