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Piecing Me Together

Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner

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Piecing Me Together

By: Renée Watson
Narrated by: Zenzi Williams
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Bloomsbury presents Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson, read by Zenzi Williams.

Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner
New York Times bestseller
"Timely and timeless." —Jacqueline Woodson
"Important and deeply moving." —John Green

Bestselling and Newbery Medal winning author Renée Watson offers a powerful story about a girl striving for success in a world that too often seems like it's trying to break her.

Jade believes she must get out of her poor neighborhood if she's ever going to succeed. Her mother tells her to take advantage of every opportunity that comes her way. And Jade has: every day she rides the bus to the private school where she feels like an outsider, but where she has plenty of opportunities. But some opportunities she doesn't really welcome, like an invitation to join a mentorship program for "at-risk" girls. Just because her mentor is Black and graduated from the same high school doesn't mean she understands where Jade is coming from. She's tired of being singled out as someone who needs help, someone people want to fix. Jade wants to speak, to create, to express her joys and sorrows, her pain and her hope. Maybe there are some things she could show other women about understanding the world and finding ways to be real, to make a difference.

NPR's Best Books
A New York Public Library Best Teen Book of the Year
Chicago Public Library's Best Books
A School Library Journal Best Book
Kirkus Reviews' Best Teen Books
Josette Frank Award Winner©2017 Renée Watson (P)2026 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Coming of Age Difficult Situations Literature & Fiction Inspiring
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Critic reviews

Watson’s elegantly crafted novel speaks to the myriad of people who find themselves searching for themselves in the world. Timely and timeless, Piecing Me Together is a book about the ways young people deal with the hardships and heartbreak of everyday living while remaining whole and true to themselves. There is a little bit of Jade in all of us. As she and the rest of Watson’s characters jumped off the page and into my heart, I found myself again and again, remembering this. (Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award-winning author of BROWN GIRL DREAMING)
Watson, with rhythm and style, somehow gets at the toxicity of sympathy, the unquenchable thirst of fear, and the life-changing power of voice and opportunity, all wrapped up in Jade--the coolest young lady in the world. Or at least, in Portland, Oregon. Simply, Piecing Me Together is a book you'll want to hug! (Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling and award-winning coauthor of ALL AMERICAN BOYS)
An important and deeply moving novel. Highly recommended. (John Green, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of THE FAULT IN OUR STARS)
A nuanced story about girls navigating the landmines of others’ good intentions, Piecing Me Together will make readers wrestle with every assumption they have about race, economic class, and so-called at-risk kids. An honest look at how girls stitch together their talents to find their voice and power. Renee Watson is a top-rate storyteller about what impacts young women today. (Meg Medina, award-winning author of BURN BABY BURN)
Jade’s narrative voice offers compelling reflections on the complexities of race and gender, class and privilege, and fear and courage, while conveying the conflicted emotions of an ambitious, loyal girl. Teeming with compassion and insight, Watson’s story trumpets the power of artistic expression to re-envision and change the world. (starred review)
Through Jade's insightful and fresh narration, Watson presents a powerful story that challenges stereotypes about girls with 'coal skin and hula-hoop hips' who must contend with the realities of racial profiling and police brutality. . . . A timely, nuanced, and unforgettable story about the power of art, community, and friendship. (starred review)
This unique and thought-provoking title offers a nuanced meditation on race, privilege, and intersectionality. (starred review)
A thoughtful testament to the value of growth and of work, of speaking up and of listening, that will resonate with many readers engaged in 'discovering what we are really capable of.' (starred review)
A balancing act between class, race, and social dynamics, with Watson constantly undercutting stereotypes and showing no fear in portraying virtues along with vices. The book’s defiance of a single-issue lens will surely inspire discussion and consideration.
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