Thank you to @bookishfirst and Roaring Brook Press for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Right before her senior year, Avery Anderson is uprooted from her life in DC and into the home of her cranky terminally ill grandmother in Bardell, Georgia. The environment is less than ideal as Avery's mom and grandmother had a falling out almost fifteen years earlier. Avery finds solace in becoming friends with Simone, the girl next door, and Simone's best friend, Jade, the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Bardell. As the three girls get closer, Avery finds out that her family's past is entwined with the town's racist past. Should she bring this to the light or keep it buried?
This book made me cry! Even though I knew that Mama Letty's death was coming, I was still bawling. What a difficult situation that Avery was put in, and all she wanted to do was get to know her family better. This was a beautifully weaved tale that resonates with the reader. Also the sass level of both grandmother and granddaughter is super fun. I also liked how the author would write an intermediary chapter with what went on in the past or the current event from another point of view. It broke up the book very nicely. Also the book itself is gorgeous. There's a fun surprise underneath the book jacket.
Right before her senior year, Avery Anderson is uprooted from her life in DC and into the home of her cranky terminally ill grandmother in Bardell, Georgia. The environment is less than ideal as Avery's mom and grandmother had a falling out almost fifteen years earlier. Avery finds solace in becoming friends with Simone, the girl next door, and Simone's best friend, Jade, the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Bardell. As the three girls get closer, Avery finds out that her family's past is entwined with the town's racist past. Should she bring this to the light or keep it buried?
This book made me cry! Even though I knew that Mama Letty's death was coming, I was still bawling. What a difficult situation that Avery was put in, and all she wanted to do was get to know her family better. This was a beautifully weaved tale that resonates with the reader. Also the sass level of both grandmother and granddaughter is super fun. I also liked how the author would write an intermediary chapter with what went on in the past or the current event from another point of view. It broke up the book very nicely. Also the book itself is gorgeous. There's a fun surprise underneath the book jacket.