This book is so gorgeously written, engaging, and heartfelt. I'm amazed it's a debut. I love the friendship between the three girls, Avery, Jade, and Simone. It felt very realistic. The slow-burn mystery had me intrigued from the beginning. Both with Jade's family as well as what secrets Avery's grandmother and mother are hiding. I'll definitely look forward to Hammonds' second book!

5 stars.

I’m 24 and this coming of age-esque story took me by storm. I laughed, cried and felt all the emotions in between. This story is about history, truths and finding yourself. This story is about grief, of the living and the dead. It is also how some burdens are not ours to carry. This story was perfect. The pacing and story telling was just right. It was important that it came from Avery’s perspective. The characters were fun, realistic and diverse. Death is a big part of this story but I didn’t find it overwhelming. The scenes at Renny’s were my favorites. I’d recommend this story to anyone looking for books about finding yourself, enjoy stories with LGBTQIA+ rep and/or enjoys small town vibes.

Avery’s senior year of high school is uprooted and her predictable life is turned on end after her mom finds out that her estranged grandmother is dying of cancer. A family decision is made to move from D.C. to rural Georgia to spend time with Mama Letty during her final months. As Avery tries to connect with her grandma and get to know her before she is gone, she starts coming across secrets and stories about this small community that still suffers from the effects of the Jim Crow era. She also has her eyes opened to family secrets and conflicts rooted in years of hurt and loss. Through this discovery, Avery questions her own story and the direction she wants her life to take.

Overall a well written novel about a young person’s journey to discovering one’s self. The context and setting add to that premise as our main character directly experiences what systemic racism looks like as well people who are not as open to LGBTQ persons. I did struggle at times with the story as it jumped from one scenario to the next feeling that the situation was manufactured (versus organic) just to progress Avery’s character development. Would definitely recommend this novel. 4 stars.

Review based on a digital Uncorrected Proof provided by Fierce Reads and NetGalley. Thank you!

Lovely writing while taking on a lot of serious topics. I especially appreciated the way that the book gave space to both Zora and Mama Letty's pain, and how the title tied into the arc of the story. I did feel like the ending lacked a bit of punch and the twist was significant but revealed too late to really delve into, and I also thought that Avery's father came off as somewhat unrealistically easy-going and that Avery's comfort toward Simone often seemed...insufficiently aware of how bad/dangerous coming out can be for some people. I also have perpetually mixed feelings about inclusion of the pandemic in books; I can tell that they were really trying for smooth and natural integration here, but I think that the "casual" references ended up emphasizing themselves more. Overall, however, it's a really strong YA contemporary with a wonderful sense of place.

We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds was fabulous. Thank you so much to Roaring Brook Press and Macmillan for my advance reader's copy and to Recorded Books for my ALC. Hammonds has created a compelling story that weaves together a swoony romance, an unsolved mystery, and a whole host of family secrets. She also deftly navigates complex themes like racism, homophobia, and the effects of generational trauma. Additionally, the narrator, Tamika Katon-Donegal, delivers a beautiful performance.

Avery and her parents move from Washington, D.C. to Bardell, Georgia to care for her estranged, dying grandmother. This small Georgia town has not let go of its racist roots; it's just disguised and adapted them to make them less obvious, but the Black residents are under no delusions. The rich white families run this town, and they can get away with murder. Avery tries to settle in to her senior year at a new school and eventually befriends Simone and Jade, which makes her situation more palatable. While she's out and unashamed of her queer identity, the town isn't quite ready to fly the pride flag. So when she and Simone fall for each other, they knew it was only a matter of time before things got ugly.

Alongside all of that, Avery is struggling to get to know her grandmother, Mama Letty, before it's too late. In the process, family secrets come to light, and Avery begins to wonder if her mom and grandmother will be able to reconcile in time.

This book kept me engaged from the very beginning. It taps into the current zeitgeist--questioning which people deserve monuments, which people deserve to be remembered, and how can we shift the unfair balance of power in a society so fully entrenched in racism and white supremacy? The effects of those systems of oppression are far-reaching, and We Deserve Monuments dives into the trauma and grief those effects can have on not just Black families but on entire communities. This book will be a wonderful addition to both classroom libraries and personal bookshelves, just as important for adults as for teens to read.

Bravo! I loved it. Even though it broke my heart.

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.

Make sure to have a box of tissues nearby; sobbing (happy and sad tears) is enviable while reading this outstanding debut. Executed with exquisite prose, readers meet Avery, who is spending the summer before her senior year transplanted from DC to Georgia. Her mother is returning home to care for Mama Letty, Avery’s estranged and terminally ill grandmother. But Avery sticks out in the small, southern town of Bardell; she’s a queer, biracial teen. Luckily, she makes friends with her next-door neighbor Simone Cole and Jade Oliver, who also happens to be the daughter of Badell’s leading family. Thus begins an intricately woven queer coming-of-age story about love, the marginalized, generational trauma, and secrets buried in the past.

I thought this started out a bit stronger than it finished, but overall a solid, sweet, moving, sad, infuriating book. I really enjoyed watching Avery grow and work through a lot of complicated relationships.

Ireally liked this book- I liked the main character Avery a lot, she is smart, caring and thoughtful. The story, and how she learns of the generational trauma in her family's past, is impactful. I thought this book was really well-written

D.C. native Avery is forced to spend her senior year in a small Georgian town when her mom returns home to care for her terminally ill and estranged grandma, Mama Letty. In order survive one year without her friends and the city that she loves, Avery plans is to focus forward, until she can go back to D.C. to attend Georgetown, her dream school. But a funny thing happens during her stay in Bardell, she makes friends, she bonds with Mama Letty, tastes the sweet fruit of forbidden love, and learns the importance of focusing on the present. Yet, in the deep South, the present is always closely tied to the past, and new friends have long legacies both to the town and to Avery's family. As Avery learns to focus on the now, will what happened in the past impact, where she end up in the future? Check out Jas Hammond's extraordinary We Deserve Monuments and experience this wonderful queer coming of age mystery for yourself.

We Deserve Monuments is simply fantastic. Jas Hammond's writes a book which gives the reader both excellent prose and a meticulous plot, combined with wonderful yet heart wrenching queer romance. If you enjoy coming of age mysteries which deeply explores, love, loss, and legacy then this book is definitely for you.

I won an e-version of this book from the publishers so thank you for that!

This book was an emotional rollercoaster. One minute I was crying because I was happy and the next I was crying because it was sad. There is so much depth and story in this book and I was so invested in the characters.

I wish there was a good way for me to sum up all my thoughts. I finished this in a little less than a day because it was just that good. I felt myself in Avery personally being a biracial girl and I felt for her when she was talking about her old friends. The “you can’t be offended cause you’re barely black” had me both crying and wanting to slap someone in the mouth. Simone and Jade seemed like such awesome and genuine friends I cried at the scene where they were at the hotel sleepover. I loved their friend group dynamic so much.

There is a lot in here about pain. Generational pain and trauma that trickles down and sets in and doesn’t let go. It grabs a hold and bares its claws into everyone around it. Mama Letty was forced to bear this pain and gave it to her daughter. The image of trauma and abuse runs deep and Avery is the witness to it all. Zora is obviously not completely healed from this and does not want to give it to her daughter. I felt so bad for her. She wanted so badly to love the mother who hurt and abused her while also help her in her dying days. She felt so hurt she didn’t want to go back home and didn’t want to subject her daughter to what was really going on and what she couldn’t talk about. I felt that so deeply. I felt the worse for Ray. And also for Amelia.

At the heart of it also are Avery and Simone. The feelings they have for each other. Their romance and their trip to the Renaissance was so sweet. I loved Mr. Arnie and Jerome. We need more father figures like them out there.

The twist at the end I saw coming but it still stung. Hearing about how Ray being murdered changed Letty completely broke my heart in half. Because it happened. It still happens. No more statues of white people. People like Ray are the ones who deserve monuments. This book was beautiful and heartbreaking but also uplifting and inspiring. Thank you again to Fierce Reads for giving me this copy early.

I never really got into this book but not because of the book itself. When I started reading, I kept falling asleep and when I woke up I could not recall where I had left off. However, when I would flip back pages I would remember. Somehow the events really did not stick in my mind. Overall, I thought that the book had a solid plot and plenty of intrigue to go along with it. I just never settled in deep enough to remember details and connect with the characters.

This one is definitely a Morris Award Contender! This journey of identity, family, and deep secrets will draw readers in and captivate them.

Loved the complexity of the story and the many layers of secrets in the book. It was a wonderful read.

A stunning story of moving to a small town and realizing that everything can change with a simple move. Our safety is contingent on our environment and can be taken away from us so easily. But also a stunning story of falling for the girl next door. And learning about generational trauma, and learning to heal together. Honestly this is a stand out novel and you shouldn't miss it.

Absolute stunner of a debut. Hammonds weaves the South, family, generational trauma, secrets and queer love into a compulsively readable story. I cannot wait to read the next book by this incredible author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!
I loved this! This is a great story about a biracial girl who needs to move to her mom's hometown in Georgia to take care of her dying grandmother--but there are family secrets that no one will talk about, generational trauma and a really cute girl next door . . . The main character's journey through all this profoundly changes her. I loved the exploration of family dynamics and pain and choosing to love anyway . . I was a little less excited about the "mystery" aspects of the story, but that is probably because I was so involved in the family and character situations that I didn't want to spend time on "who did it" lol. Very good debut YA novel; recommended!

What worked: Powerful, poignant coming-of-age story. Seventeen-year-old Avery moves from DC to a small town in Georgia to help her dying grandmother. There are many secrets that include intergenerational trauma. One of those secrets involves a tragedy with Avery's family and anger that continues to haunt the family.

I really loved this novel. Avery is biracial and when she is around her dying grandmother Letty she's slowly able to piece together what happened one fateful day in Georgia to the grandfather she never knew.

Avery hooks up with Jade, a girl whose family lives in a Southern Plantation and has their own secrets, and next-door neighbor Simone. The romance between Avery and Simone is a slow burn that has some similarities to their own mother's friendship years ago.

Readers follow Avery as she navigates such issues as homophobia, racism, and family trauma in a small Georgia town. Great pacing throughout with hope resonating at the end.

Amazing, gripping tale of trauma that is felt for generations. A total must-read.
Good Points
1. Amazing, poignant story of intergenerational trauma set in Georgia
2. Queer love story

I really enjoyed this book. It followed Avery, a queer girl from DC forced to move to her mother's tiny rural hometown of Bardell, Georgia to care for her dying grandmother. Probably my favorite part was Avery's unexpected self-actualization in Bardell; even in such a hostile (racist, homophobic) environment, she was able to find community, wholeness, and love, and actively cultivate those things in her world. I also especially liked reading about her friendship group in Bardell, her romantic relationship with Simone, and the history of queer existence and love in Bardell. I also enjoyed the process of uncovering the town's secrets throughout the book, but I felt that the final reveal wasn't given enough time to be developed; it had a lot of repercussions in Avery's life that I would have loved to see addressed. However, I did enjoy the author's take on resolving narrative threads in the "epilogue" section; I've never before seen a YA romance give more weight to the characters' life paths than their dating future.

Wow so this has to be one of my favorites of the year. It really tugged at my heart and the way the story was put together was super impressive too. I think I read this book in a day? Maybe two at maximum? But yeah it did not take me super long and it made me cry as I read it, and both of those things are super fun and worth practically everything.

The characters were of course superb. Avery with her sarcasm and wit and Simone with her dreams and fears and Jade who was just super nice and trying her best. And the family that we lived with was so superb as well. The way their secrets and traumas and lives were all connected was so fun and I loved it a lot (I also love how it was mentioned that a certain character went to therapy to heal from trauma, but it wasn’t mentioned in a bad way or in super graphic detail, it was just mentioned).

I also loved how complex all the relationships were. There were reasons behind everyone who didn’t like each other, and reasons behind everyone that did. It was just so so fun to read and figure out what was going on. And the way the plot helped us uncover what was going on and the complex relationships between all of the characters was superb. Avery is trying to find out why her mom and grandma don’t like each other and the way the book helps Avery (and us) learn about that is so fun and dare I say, quite realistic.

The book takes place after quarantine and so these teenagers have also lost around 2 years of school to COVID. It made me connect with them a lot better and bonding with them was important as the plot was so so focused on people. It was also really cool setting wise because Stacey Abrams was mentioned and other political events were too. It seemed like the author was trying to ground this book in the present and doing so really helped me connect with the characters as well.

The way the friendship struggles were portrayed was also realistic. I haven’t really had a lot of in person friendships but I would like to note that also seemed realistic to me, even if I’m not a hundred percent certain it was. It really touched me and was fun.

And now, for what you all have been waiting for, Annalee’s Thoughts On Plot.

I really really liked how this book was set up! The way the flashbacks were interspersed really evenly with what was happening in the present made me want to keep reading all the time to learn more and also provided crucial details to the narrative as they went. We learned about the Oliver Family through flashbacks, and what happened to Amelia Oliver, and we learned what was happening in the Anderson Family in the present. I thought it was really incredibly well-written and put together and I aspire to write that well one day.

Why are all the books getting published giving me writing envy now?

But anyway the plot was really quite character-centric as the characters tried to figure out what was going in their respective pasts, and as Avery tried to figure out why her family was the way it was. It was really nice and I liked the narrative.

I liked how the book showed that people can and do change for better and for worse. Life is a long time, and of course people are going to change during those (on average) 70+ years. I liked that in the book and it really touched me.

I also liked how queerness and the scariness of coming out was talked about in this book. Because sometimes it is scary or hard or sad or a combination of the three, depending on the circumstances. And I’m really glad that was mentioned in this book because not every coming out is a basket of rainbows (no one worry, mine was fine) and hopefully readers can connect to that as well.

All in all, Avery’s story was one that made me smile and cry and unable to put down We Deserve Monuments. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it!