Welcome to Windows & Mirrors, where we feature books that provide us windows to lives outside our own and mirrors to our shared common human experiences.
This week we are featuring WATCH US RISE by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan.
Chelsea and Jasmine grow frustrated with the way girls are treated at their supposedly progressive New York City high school– body shaming, stereotyping, and unapproved touching that makes their skin crawl. Even more upsetting, females are part of the problem too. Chelsea and Jasmine cannot suppress their need to stand up and speak out, so they join forces and create an after-school Women’s Rights Club to explore their interests and concerns through writing. And oh how they write! They post their work in the form of poetry, essays, and videos online. Instantly, their blog goes viral. But this surge in interest also attracts trolls who are out to stop their progress and stem their creative force. Unwilling to return to silence, the girls risk everything to make their voices heard.
There is so much beauty to be discovered in this feminist anthem. It’s the story of a fat black girl whose father is dying from cancer and an average everyday white girl who inspire each other to step out and be extraordinary. There are several richly-drawn side characters who are allies too, Puerto Rican artist Isaac and Japanese Lebanese designer Nadine, as well as love interests and foes who all make the story authentic and relatable. The themes and messages are timely and timeless, but what really stands out is the art that Chelsea and Jasmine create. In their blog post, they describe the harm that movies, advertising, and television does to our body image and the continuous use of stereotypes that degrade women and their accomplishments. They describe microaggressions and the intersectionality of race and gender in a way that is accessible to all. The poetry, in particular, is awesome and inspiring, and I would love to quote pages and pages of it for you. Fortunately, Bloomsbury Publishing has shared some of the passages on YouTube, so scroll down for that.
This book is perfect for feminists, those who like to question the influence of society on our biases, and those who would like to understand the roots of feminism and the racial issues that divide our world. An artistic, empowering, and illuminating story supporting the #metoomovement and its intersectionality with the racial divide and encouraging young people to speak up and make a difference!
WATCH US RISE released on 2/12/19 and is available at bookstores everywhere! Stop by for a copy today or request it from your library. This is a great book for classroom and school libraries, a fantastic book club read, and a terrific conversation starter. It has earned STARRED reviews from Kirkus and School Library Journal! Thank you to KidLit Exchange for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
WATCH US RISE is the powerful creation from NYTimes Bestselling, Coretta Scott King Award-winning, and Newbery Honor-winning author Renée Watson and poet Ellen Hagan. Check out their interview at School Library Journal here and then watch these snippets from the book!
