Watch Us Rise

Starred review from December 1, 2018

Gr 8 Up{amp}mdash;A highly needed work for the #MeToo movement. Told from the viewpoints of Chelsea and Jasmine, this thought-provoking novel explores ideas of body-shaming, racial stereotypes, and gender inequality. Chelsea is a poet and Jasmine is a writer and actress. Fed up with their school's lack of acknowledgement of women's rights, they decide to take a stand with their blog, "Write Like A Girl." It catches the attention of many of their fellow classmates and other teens, but causes problems for them with faculty. Will they be able to enlighten their school community or make things worse for themselves? Readers will enjoy the original poems and creative, witty blog entries. The ending will leave teens inspired to make a difference and challenge the status quo. Watson and Hagan do not disappoint in this powerful story of two girls who take a stand against injustice while learning how to navigate a world that seeks to silence them. VERDICT A timely and must-have collaboration for all YA collections{amp}mdash;Cicely Lewis, Meadowcreek High School

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

A manifesto for budding feminists. At the core of this engaging novel are besties Chelsea, who is Irish- and Italian-American and into fashion and beauty, and Jasmine, who is African-American, loves the theater, and pushes back against bias around size ("I don't need your fake compliments, your pity. I know I'm beautiful. Inside and out"). They and their sidekicks, half-Japanese/half-Lebanese Nadine and Puerto Rican Isaac, grow into first-class activists--simultaneously educating their peers and readers. The year gets off to a rocky start at their progressive, social justice-oriented New York City high school: Along with the usual angst many students experience, Jasmine's father is terminally ill with cancer, and after things go badly in both their clubs, Jasmine and Chelsea form a women's rights club which becomes the catalyst for their growth as they explore gender inequality and opportunities for change. This is an inspiring look at two strong-willed teens growing into even stronger young women ready to use their voices and take on the world, imploring budding feminists everywhere to "join the revolution." The book offers a poetic balance of dialogue among the main characters, their peers, and the adults in their lives. The exquisite pacing, which intersperses everyday teen conflicts with weightier issues, demonstrates how teens long to be heard and taken seriously.A book that seamlessly brings readers along on a journey of impact and empowerment. (resources for young activists, endnotes) (Fiction. 12-18)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (Online Review)