Remember Us

I picked up this novel from Jacqueline Woodson the minute I heard about it, because of my love for her 2020 MG release Before the Ever After. The story takes place the summer before Sage enters seventh grade, in Brooklyn's Bushwick neighborhood, called "The Matchbox" because buildings keep going up in flames. Her mother wants to move them to a safer neighborhood—especially because Sage's father died fighting one of those fires—but she's reluctant to leave the place that holds so many family memories. Woodson drew heavily on her own experience growing up in Bushwick in the 70s and 80s to pen this novel, and beautifully captures the dreams and pain of the tween years and the particular poignancy of Sage's struggles. This lyrical story of grief, change, and healing is especially good on audio, narrated by the author.