I love Renee Watson's books and this was no exception! I hope everyone reads this when it comes out!

I really enjoyed this one. Amara is a young girl whose simple life gets complicated as she becomes aware of things she was previously oblivious to and her life starts to change.
It was many thing that I look for in a book I would use in my 6th grade classroom for book clubs. It had a relatable character, realistic conflict, and thematic elements that were clear. The writing was also in a style that seemed pretty easy to read and I know my students can understand and interpret.
Will definitely be purchasing for my classroom.

As I finished this book, I could not keep it together. I sobbed and my heart is full. All Amara wants to do for her 12th birthday is take a trip to Harlem to see where her dad grew up. Although her aunt has visited her in Oregon, she longs to see the city that shaped her father. Before Amara leaves, she is given a school project that becomes the excuse to discover a part of her family history that she never knew, including the rift between her father and her Grandpa Earl. Full of Harlem’s history, this book pays homage to the activists, Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to name a few. Definitely getting this for my library when it comes out in September!

I ended up loving this book! It took me a little bit, but I really fell in love once Amara visited New York. I loved watching her meet her extended family and start to understand where her . dad came from. I think Watson did an excellent job bringing up the concept of establishing your own identity as a young adult and how that can conflict with your parents' identities. Although short, I think this book has a lot to discuss and would be a great conversation starter for my 6th graders.

Amana yearns for who she is, in family and in culture. Unlike many books, Amana comes from a strong family and has many opportunities through her dad’s career. One one trip, she finds the deep rooted connection she felt but couldn’t find.
The story is rich with pride of and for the history of the Harlem Renaissance.. Focusing on the so many positive aspects that have come from Harlem was refreshing and opened my eyes to some people I hadn’t heard of. It was a great read and one I can’t wait for my students to get their hands on.

I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the story of Amara who is trying to learn more about her family’s history while also encouraging her father and grandfather to mend some fences. I liked Amara, and loved that she found so much value in the little things of her family’s traditions. I was surprised the book ended as abruptly as it did but the ending wasn’t necessarily unsatisfying.