A review by roseleaf24
Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson

4.0

In a year dominated by The Hate U Give, it is hard to evaluate this book without comparison. I am unsurprised that it received a Newbery Honor; it presented the racist realities of our current culture from a fresh viewpoint, and was much more appropriate for the upper end of the Newbery spectrum/lower end of YA than THUG was. It was also a story about a black girl from a black neighborhood who goes to a private school primarily attended by rich white students. I really appreciated that this one showed that not all white students who attend a private school are rich; some white kids need scholarships, too, and everyone has their own blend of struggles. I wish we had heard a bit more about Sam's background; she felt silenced after a whole lot of talk about listening. I also really wish we had been able to see some of Jade's artwork; there was such a strong visual element to the book that was not represented. This was a really intriguing book with strong characters, and it was told in a way that was sometimes uncomfortable but otherwise easy to read.