We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds
Trigger Warnings: Racism, cancer, homophobia, colorism, past break-up, mention of Covid/pandemic, past murder of a parent, past affair, past death of a grandmother, past death of a sibling, past car crash, cursing, weed, alcohol, alcoholism, abuse, neglect, coming out, Klan, death of a grandparent on page, gun
Representation: Black, Lesbian, Bisexual
We Deserve Monuments is a YA contemporary in which Avery is ripped from her school during her senior year to move to her grandmother’s house because she is dying. Despite the move, Avery’s mother has a very chilly relationship with her mother. Avery makes friends, gets to know her grandmother, and searches for answers to the town’s unsolved mysteries.
I loved the realism in this story. I loved Avery and her courage. I thought she was so layered and vulnerable, completely relatable for a teenage girl in today’s society. As far as romance, this book is double sided. The story itself is a slow burn but Avery is coupled so fast. I thought this added to the story’s realism because young love tends to more quickly and parts of life can feel like they take forever. I also enjoyed the trace of mystery the story holds.
This book provides the readers with all of the emotions and I think the author did a fantastic job incorporating such a life-like experience into the story. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I wasn’t sure I would based on the synopsis but I am so glad I read it!
Trigger Warnings: Racism, cancer, homophobia, colorism, past break-up, mention of Covid/pandemic, past murder of a parent, past affair, past death of a grandmother, past death of a sibling, past car crash, cursing, weed, alcohol, alcoholism, abuse, neglect, coming out, Klan, death of a grandparent on page, gun
Representation: Black, Lesbian, Bisexual
We Deserve Monuments is a YA contemporary in which Avery is ripped from her school during her senior year to move to her grandmother’s house because she is dying. Despite the move, Avery’s mother has a very chilly relationship with her mother. Avery makes friends, gets to know her grandmother, and searches for answers to the town’s unsolved mysteries.
I loved the realism in this story. I loved Avery and her courage. I thought she was so layered and vulnerable, completely relatable for a teenage girl in today’s society. As far as romance, this book is double sided. The story itself is a slow burn but Avery is coupled so fast. I thought this added to the story’s realism because young love tends to more quickly and parts of life can feel like they take forever. I also enjoyed the trace of mystery the story holds.
This book provides the readers with all of the emotions and I think the author did a fantastic job incorporating such a life-like experience into the story. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I wasn’t sure I would based on the synopsis but I am so glad I read it!