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A review by bookishrealm
Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson
4.0
One thing's for certain, Jacqueline Woodson never ever ever disappoints me. There isn't a thing that she will write that I won't enjoy. Remember Us was no different. CW: death of animal, trauma related to fires, death of child, grief/mourning loss of parent
Remember Us is a mix between historical fiction and realistic fiction and follows a main character by the name of Sage who grows up in a Bushwick community known as "the matchbox" due the number of fires that occur in the neighborhood. Sage's mother is saving up money to move them out of the neighborhood so that they can start new. While this is happening, Sage must reckon with the memories that she has of her community and the need to move forward.
What Worked: I never doubt that I'm going to learn something when I pick up a book by Jacqueline Woodson. Reading this title was no different. It's an interesting mix of historical fiction and realistic fiction and ultimately captures the scheme that landlords would use to acquire insurance money. I ended up reading an article that describes how people in the 2000s-2010s considered Bushwick to be one of the coolest areas to live/visit with little to no regard about the multiple transformations the community experienced. The biggest transformation being that of the 1960s and 1970s where the neighborhood experience blockbusting, fires, and finally the black out that made national news in 1977. One of the reoccurring themes that I saw in my research that is woven into this book is the idea that the memory of those who were in Bushwick before and during these transformations gets lost. Woodson utilizes Sage and her experiences as a catalyst for a time in a community that is seemingly washed away, forgotten as they were forced to move on with their lives. It's a tough road for Sage to navigate as she battles the grief from the loss of her father as well as the casual sexism she experiences for being a girl that loves basketball. Woodson ties all these elements into a somewhat somber story, but one that is ultimately rewarding and provides insight to a specific time is US history.
Overall, I enjoyed my reading experience of this one (this should come as no surprise). I'm not sure why I haven't done it yet, but I need to make my way through Woodson's backlist ASAP.
Remember Us is a mix between historical fiction and realistic fiction and follows a main character by the name of Sage who grows up in a Bushwick community known as "the matchbox" due the number of fires that occur in the neighborhood. Sage's mother is saving up money to move them out of the neighborhood so that they can start new. While this is happening, Sage must reckon with the memories that she has of her community and the need to move forward.
What Worked: I never doubt that I'm going to learn something when I pick up a book by Jacqueline Woodson. Reading this title was no different. It's an interesting mix of historical fiction and realistic fiction and ultimately captures the scheme that landlords would use to acquire insurance money. I ended up reading an article that describes how people in the 2000s-2010s considered Bushwick to be one of the coolest areas to live/visit with little to no regard about the multiple transformations the community experienced. The biggest transformation being that of the 1960s and 1970s where the neighborhood experience blockbusting, fires, and finally the black out that made national news in 1977. One of the reoccurring themes that I saw in my research that is woven into this book is the idea that the memory of those who were in Bushwick before and during these transformations gets lost. Woodson utilizes Sage and her experiences as a catalyst for a time in a community that is seemingly washed away, forgotten as they were forced to move on with their lives. It's a tough road for Sage to navigate as she battles the grief from the loss of her father as well as the casual sexism she experiences for being a girl that loves basketball. Woodson ties all these elements into a somewhat somber story, but one that is ultimately rewarding and provides insight to a specific time is US history.
Overall, I enjoyed my reading experience of this one (this should come as no surprise). I'm not sure why I haven't done it yet, but I need to make my way through Woodson's backlist ASAP.