My Thoughts:
14-year old Ayo is raised by a strong, activist single parent who involves Ayo in her non-profit See Us. There is a large protest called "How Much?" against the rampant police violence towards African Americans in Harlem and although Ayo is the president of the youth branch, she really just wants to be a teenager and not have to carry the burden of carrying the injustices of a whole people on her young shoulders. She wants to hang out and laugh and maybe even fall in love.
But when her mother gets shot in the head during the protest, Ayo is looked at as the voice of the movement. Can she find the source of her motherʻs strength? Can she step forward in the role that she has been trained for and call forth the ancestors in order to be heard? This story is powerful and heart breaking. It is about sacrifice and love. Mostly it is about being heard.
This book could lead to or from books like The Hate U Give, and Dear Martin
From the Publisher:
Ayo's mother founded the biggest civil rights movement to hit New York City in decades. It’s called ‘See Us’ and it tackles police brutality and racial profiling in Harlem. Ayo has spent her entire life being an activist and now, she wants out. She wants to get her first real kiss, have a boyfriend, and just be a normal teen.
When her mom is put into a coma after a riot breaks out between protesters and police, protestors want Ayo to become the face of See Us and fight for justice for her mother who can no longer fight for herself. While she deals with her grief and anger, Ayo must also discover if she has the strength to take over where her mother left off.
This impactful and unforgettable novel takes on the important issues of inequality, systemic racism, police violence, and social justice.
Author: Marie Arnold
Publication date: August 2, 2022
Publisher: Versify
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