Nuanced look at relationships in this YA debut
YA books sometimes get a bad reputation for oversimplifying complex topics. In We Deserve Monuments, Jas Hammonds doesn't shy away from tackling some tough topics - intergenerational trauma, abuse, racism including violent racist acts, homophobia, sexual identity and coming out, alongside love, friendship and family dynamics. There's even a murder mystery in the mix!
I appreciate the care taken in developing the central characters even traveling back in time to highlight some perspectives from the past. I also appreciate that they all had their flaws and shortcomings and were all trying to be better people and better to their loved ones, even if this didn't all go well. There are many sweet and heartwarming moments throughout the book that only underscore the power of love, friendship and family (blood related and found).
The ending is maybe the part of the story that feels like it might lack some of the nuance in other sections of the book (the consequences of new knowledge see a bit underdeveloped). That said, as a reader, I was all in and only experienced a whiff of hesitation a few days after putting down the book.
Overall, it was a great read and I'm looking forward to passing it along to other YA enthusiast. And I'd be remiss not to mention that it's just a beautiful cover that I'm excited to display in my classroom.
Thanks to Bookish First and Macmillan Publishing for the early copy.
I appreciate the care taken in developing the central characters even traveling back in time to highlight some perspectives from the past. I also appreciate that they all had their flaws and shortcomings and were all trying to be better people and better to their loved ones, even if this didn't all go well. There are many sweet and heartwarming moments throughout the book that only underscore the power of love, friendship and family (blood related and found).
The ending is maybe the part of the story that feels like it might lack some of the nuance in other sections of the book (the consequences of new knowledge see a bit underdeveloped). That said, as a reader, I was all in and only experienced a whiff of hesitation a few days after putting down the book.
Overall, it was a great read and I'm looking forward to passing it along to other YA enthusiast. And I'd be remiss not to mention that it's just a beautiful cover that I'm excited to display in my classroom.
Thanks to Bookish First and Macmillan Publishing for the early copy.