Sun Keep Rising tells the story of a teen mom, B'onca, going to summer school and trying to find a way to take care of her baby. As her neighborhood becomes gentrified, she begins to appreciate her home more. A homebuyer makes her an offer, but she still refuses. Readers are determined to do what must be done to save her home, her family, and her child. B'onca is a relatable character and makes me empathize with her. I'm not a teen mom, but I know enough that they're not just defined by having a young child. I recommend this book to young adults (and even not-so-young adults). It's a quick, light-hearted read.

B'onca has such voice in this character study! So much voice, I felt like she was right here telling me the story herself. She had me rooting for her the entire time. Empaths reading this, be ready to be in all your feels as this teen mom does whatever it takes to provide for her baby girl. B'onca has an unrelenting determination to protect her daughter from the type of disappointment she's had to endure from the very people, let alone society, charged to preserve the childhood she deserved.
" She's expected to complete school and handle adult decisions and responsibilities with a wage that some households of privilege would consider allowance. My reel gives a rough idea of some of the expenses that this young Memphis mom manages. And these expenses don't even include the rent y'all!

I especially appreciated how community played a major factor in B’onca’s life. I’ll be posting more about my reflection on this in a second feature post about this book.

My Rating: 3/5 stars

My Review:

I received a digital ARC from the publisher via TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange for an honest review and place on this blog tour – thanks!

Looking back, I am pretty sure this is the first book I’ve read with a teenaged mother protagonist. Maybe it is something I am not super aware of, but it isn’t something I’ve encountered before so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. Sun Keep Rising is a book that tackles a lot of big issues in its less than 300 pages, including the topic of gentrification of primarily Black neighbourhoods in the United States. That remains the one at the heart of the book, even if it kind of gets pushed around with everything else B’onca has going on for her.

B’onca is constantly doing her best to do right by everyone and everything in her life: her sister, her friends, and most importantly her daughter Mia. All while still in high school, trying to finish summer school so she can get her diploma. It’s hard, and Lee does not hesitate to show the harsh realities of motherhood, teenager or not. In doing so, B’onca becomes a dynamic character, who you cannot help but root for, even when she is making bad choices.

I do wish this book had more consistent pacing and time frame. It felt like we are constantly being pushed forward by everything in the book, without a second to stop and breathe. It does work for the themes of the story; however, it becomes confusing when you are constantly unsure when you are in the story. My only other complaint about this book is definitely spoilerly, so I won’t be discussing it in the book, but it has a lot to do with how the story ends. I just felt like there could have been more said.

Sun Keep Rising is a strong sophomore novel from an author I am sure will continue writing excellent stories from voices we do not always get to see in YA. It is a book about finding your path, and living your best life, regardless of the mistakes you may make along the way.

Sun Keep Rising released January 24th, 2023

This book follows a teen mom named B’onca and her trials and tribulations. It walks us through so many issues that we see in predominantly black neighborhoods - teen pregnancy, absentee parent(s), drugs, addiction, gangs and gentrification.

B’onca was a teen that didn’t let anything get in her way. Not the embarrassment of getting pregnant her senior year of high school or the pressures of being the first person in her family to go to college.

Her drive and determination to make things happen for her baby is admirable, even though her choices are somewhat questionable. The struggle to take care of her baby, put food on the table for her family and the prospect of college all sitting on her shoulders… but her dream of being a cosmetologist hangs in the balance.

The ending was a bit abrupt, and there were somethings I felt was rushed towards the end. But overall this is a really solid read, and I’d recommend it anyone who needs a real understanding of what being underprivileged looks and feels like.

I’m not quite sure what I thought this book was going to be, but I can tell you that it was better! It’s a young adult book that deals with some serious topics like racism, gentrification, teenage pregnancy, and addiction within family. There was a part of me that almost felt like those themes were too mature for a young audience but then I realized that these issues do not care how old you are. They are very real. Definitely check this book out and experience B’onca and her life.

Favorite lines:
✨ You can go back to being a little girl yourself.”
“I haven’t been a little girl in years.” (Way too relatable 😭)
✨ Addiction doesn’t care about nobody
✨ You’d never know from the outside looking in. People will do anything to keep up with the Joneses, not knowing that the Joneses are down bad themselves
✨ The thing about mistakes is that you recognize them and try to do better the next day

I hate to say that this was not my favorite book and it was kind of hard to get in to but I do recognize that this is one of those books that I think might not appeal to adult readers who don't have this lived experience. I would absolutely recommend this book to teen readers, but I struggled to watch B'onca struggled and make some... questionable decisions, but I can remove my adult brain and recognize that this book wasn't for me, but it was very good.

B'onca is just a young girl trying to do right by her family and her new daughter. To do so she has to overcome so many challenges. She doesn't always get it right, but she fiercely loves her daughter and is determined to keep trying. I would say this book is for a mature young adult, but definitely worth a read to gain new perspective. It does contain strong language and significant triggers. DM me if you have any questions.

Top 5 reasons to read:
1. Powerful story of a teen trying to make it in the world
2. Diverse perspectives
3. Community and found family
4. Generational trauma
5. Inspiring and hopeful

“Sun Keep Rising” is a realistic story about what it’s like living in the hood. It accurately depicts what it is like when gentrification comes knocking.

The writing is enjoyable and shows what it’s like to be a product of your environment, but B’onca made many questionable decisions. While I understood her choices, I didn’t necessarily agree with them.

The story covers several complex topics, and Lee covers them well. However, I’m unsure if this is meant to be a series because it left me with many unanswered questions. I can’t tell what they are because that would cause spoilers, but I was left wondering a few things.

The story is engaging, but it was kind of hard to connect to B’onca. She said everything she did was for her daughter, but she was incredibly impulsive. I went to school with a few “B’oncas,” but they weren’t this impulsive.

Overall, the story was enjoyable but needs a bit of development.

Rating: 3.5

This story flowed well and was believable, but ultimately not something that will stick with me.

Everyone expects B’onca Johnson to go to college. But when she gets pregnant and their rent is raised she finds herself struggling to get by. She’ll do anything to try and provide for her daughter Mia, but sometimes that means taking risks that could mean losing Mia forever.

I don’t know what the goal of this novel is, to tell a story that teen mothers can relate to or to increase awareness of the experience of teen mothers. Both are valid and important goals but the execution falls somewhere in the middle. By trying to be relatable, the story ends up generic and not particularly memorable. I don’t know why I should care about these characters in particular. That being said, there was no point where I questioned the motives of the different characters or the mistakes they made.

The plot didn’t feel like it was building to anything. I kept finding myself wondering where the story was going and even when reaching the end I was still left wanting more.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Sun keep rising is a story about 17 year old new mom B’onca. With her new normal she is also learning to navigate changes in the neighborhood, the effects of drug abuse, violence while trying to remain true to herself and create a better life for her daughter.

Thank you to @hearourvoicesfor the #gifted eARC


#sunkeeprising #b’onca #hearourvoices #gifted #booktour #hov #sunday #january #youngadult #bookstoread

This was a marvelously written book. B’onca is a young woman, a teenager, forced to make tough decisions in a volatile situation. She feel in love with a “bad boy”, birthed a blessing, and dealt with a toxic parent.

When a people is backed into a corner, with no reasonable way out, what then should they do?

This book forces the reader to look at gentrification, teen motherhood, toxic parenting, and judgement from a realistic fiction lens. This is not only beautifully done, it’s a must read.

Huge thank you to Hear Our Voices Tour, NetGalley , the publisher & author for the arc of Sun Keep Rising by Kristen R. Lee. The book was released on 2/24/2023 so be sure to go out and grab it.

Sun Keep Rising follows B’onca, a young mother, trying to finish summer school to get her high school diploma after having her daughter. Everyone had big plans for her to go to college before she got pregnant but now it seems like every thinks she just another statistic. B’onca tries to have faith that she can do it but all the cards seems to be stacked against her: her neighborhood being gentrified, past due bills, an unexpected death, drug addicted parent, custody battle over her child and lack of money just to name a few. All of this leads B’onca to make decisions that she feels are the best for her daughter but are these risky feels truly worth the cost?

I enjoyed this book surrounding the struggles that a young Black mom goes through especially in a time where your city is changing so fast before your eyes. I saw myself in B’onca so much. Having a child young and everything you had planned for your life goes on the back burner for what you feel is best for your child. You make rash decisions that you think are right but most of the time the aren’t the best. We saw B’onca make both good and bad choices. I wish we could have saw a little more growth in her. I feel like the book could have went on a little further than where it ended. Since this book takes place during the summer, I hoped we could have completed the summer and rounded everything out for B’onca and her family. Other than that I really enjoyed this coming of age YA story.

The author really conveyed how difficult it is to pursue your dreams when you are trapped in a cycle of poverty, and the odds are stacked against you. Every decision that B’onca made was for her and her daughter’s survival. Watching her on a downward spiral and wondering whether she would sink any further kept me interested in the book. The reason this read is 4 stars is that the book was slow to start, and it took me a while to get into the book because of that. Overall, this novel shed light on social issues that are often overlooked.

Thank you so much to Hear Our Voices Tours for providing me with this ARC.

"Sun Keep Rising" is a riveting contemporary young adult novel about a teenage mother trying to keep body and soul, and family together. With its fresh and genuine voice, I was immediately drawn into B’onca’s life. As a mother, I could relate to many of her new mom problems, which, in her case, were exacerbated by her young age, limited resources and options.

The character of B’onca was so real, a typical teen. You could feel her vitality and personality, keeping her hopeful for the future but realistic no matter what came her way. Her story is a familiar one: a bullying boyfriend, a first sexual experience, and an unplanned pregnancy. Then there is the ultimate betrayal of him accusing her of sleeping around (he was the one doing that) and his cowardly abandonment. But worse by far was the subplot involving her mother. It was painful reading.

The story has so much going on, and the level of tension throughout the book is gripping! Not only is there the teen mother and her family storyline, but there is the subplot of the changes occurring in the neighborhood. The impact of gentrification is far-reaching. It doesn’t just affect the single property owner selling out to the new buyers. A snowball effect creates significant collateral damage to those remaining behind; local businesses are bought out or sold, employees lose their jobs and have to make ends meet in the lull before new businesses can open, and prices increase for everything. In addition, readers get a glimpse into the illegal businesses that flourish in the shadows of depressed areas of the city. However, all is not completely grim. There is a hopeful note in the story coming from the feeling of community and family running strong through the Ridgecrest neighborhood, where everyone knows everyone else’s name and has their back.

I recommend SUN KEEP RISING to readers of contemporary young adult fiction, especially those who may have read and appreciated the 70s novel, "Go Ask Alice."

A touching story that grapples with the challenges of teenage pregnancy while trying to navigate poverty and gentrification. Usually, I find it difficult to enjoy books that deal with teenage pregnancy. However, I was invested In B'onca's journey from the beginning to the end and was rooting for her to overcome her circumstances despite it all. There were moments in the book that had me in tears because I sympathized with her character so much. I enjoyed this book, but there were some plot lines that I wish were more fleshed out, like the problem she was having with Scooter's parents. The ending came too soon for me, and there were still loose ends I would have liked to see tied.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's for 'Sun Keep Rising' by Kristen R. Lee.

The premise of this book sounded like something I would enjoy reading, and love to be able to share with my students. Even after reading it, I still feel like it's something they would still like - even though I struggled with enjoying the book as the story progressed.

At the beginning of the book, I really enjoyed being introduced to B'onca and her world, and I would have even compared this to something by Elizabeth Acevedo. As the story went on I started to feel less and less sympathetic for B'onca, since she was written as someone that was impulsive, and always made the wrong decision, and each time claimed she's doing it for her daughter. Maybe I just feel unsatisfied with how she was written, because the book feels unfinished... it doesn't feel like there was a solid resolution to the story.

Is this something I would still buy for my students, and classroom - yes.
3/5

Not everyone that is a teen mom has the experience and support that many people see on 16 and Pregnant. B’onca’s story of misfortune, mistakes, community, gentrification, and someone being quick to take your baby to give it a better life, instead of giving those resources and opportunities to the mother to do better by and for her child, they’re all too real for so many people. We need more stories like this that are relatable and full of hope. Stories that can give others a different perspective so that there’s more empathy for a young black mother than judgement. Can wait to read other work by this author!

I really went through a roller coaster of emotions with this book. B'onca's story is so real and there were many times i wanted to just hug her and i also wanted to smack her baby daddy and his parents. People are quick to dismiss teen mother and pass judgement not knowing thier circumstances. B'onca was you and yes she made mistakes but she cared for her child and was doing every thing in her power to provide for her. i could also relate to the uncertainty of having an unstable income and feeling backed into corner. I felt her frustration, her fear and her anger but her strength also shines through. She was smart, tough and resourceful and was determined not to repeat the same mistakes with her daughter that her mother made. She was trying her best to do things the right way and be a good example for her daughter but got desperate and made some bad choices.
The way in which the characters spoke and the slang that that they used felt natural. it didnt feel overdone or forced which i was grateful .
Her situation with her mom also broke my heart. She let down her walls only to be disappointed again and not only that she was left in an even more desperate situation. I think many people can relate to the heartbreak of having a family member dealing with an addiction.
I really like the attention the Kristen R. Lee brought to the issue of gentrification and the effect it has on the people in these neighborhood. I loved how the characters handled it and expressed their feelings and were willing to fight to stay in their homes and keep the history of their community from being erased.
I was so angry with B'onca's baby daddy and even more so with his parents. They dismissed her through her entire pregnancy, doubted the paternity of the baby even after she was born and allowed their to openly be an irresponsible dead beat dad and then all of sudden when thier son passes away they decide they want the baby.
They came across as extremely selfish and decided since they lost their son they can keep a piece of him alive by taking custody of the baby and claiming B'onca was an unfit mother. If they care that much they should have made thier son step up while he was alive, better yet they could have provided financial and emotional support for B'onca instead of exploiting her situation as a way to paint her as an unfit mother. I could understand why felt so desperate as to do what she did to try to solve thier problems.
The ending was heart warming and i felt better that B'onca finally seemed to have a loving and supportive support group and something she didnt think she would ever have which was options. She still had some struggles ahead but the ending made it seem as if it was looking up and she wouldnt have to face them alone.

The odds are stacked against a single Black teen mom in this hard-hitting read about strength, resilience and survival.

B'onca's situation is the reality for many and I appreciate the book highlighting what it's like to be in her shoes as she juggles school, work, relationships, motherhood, the threat of losing her child and eviction in a rapidly-gentrifying neighborhood. The author truly conveyed how difficult it is to do anything else like pursuing your dreams or thinking about the future, when you are trapped in the cycle of poverty and barely making ends meet.

I could empathise with how every decision B'onca made was for her and her daughter's survival, even when I couldn't fully support her. Watching her on a downward spiral and wondering whether she would sink any further kept me on the edge of my seat (or rather, bed, as I was so gripped by the story and up reading till 3am).

There were some loose ends that I would have preferred a more solid resolution to but nevertheless, I felt like things ended on a fitting note. Overall, this was an illuminating novel that shed light on social issues that tend to be overlooked.

Read an ARC from NetGalley. Quick read-short YA story. Touched on many topics from teen pregnancy, poverty, gentrification, violence, crime.
Very open and honest perspective of being a teen parent, without parent role models yourself.
The book seemed to end suddenly, and I would’ve liked to see what ended up happening to B’onca and Mia, an epilogue or something.