Review: Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson

Release date: February 14th 2017
Publisher: Bloomsburry
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

A timely and powerful story about a teen girl from a poor neighborhood striving for success, from acclaimed author Renée Watson.

Jade believes she must get out of her neighborhood if she’s ever going to succeed. Her mother says she has to take every opportunity. She has. She accepted a scholarship to a mostly-white private school and even Saturday morning test prep opportunities. But some opportunities feel more demeaning than helpful. Like an invitation to join Women to Women, a mentorship program for “at-risk” girls. Except really, it’s for black girls. From “bad” neighborhoods.

But Jade doesn’t need support. And just because her mentor is black doesn’t mean she understands Jade. And maybe there are some things Jade could show these successful women about the real world and finding ways to make a real difference.

Friendships, race, privilege, identity—this compelling and thoughtful story explores the issues young women face.

*Publisher approved request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked Watson's previous novel, This Side of Home, and was excited to read Piecing Me Together when I spotted it on Goodreads. Well, this novel did not disappoint. I liked how the author kept things real, touching on topics that are still so strongly present in society, while also depicting relatable problems faced by a teen girl. 

Jade wasn't perfect and didn't come from a perfect family. She's raised by a single mother in a far-from-lavish neighborhood and they shared their already tight apartment with Jade's uncle. Regardless, they did their best. The mother worked hella hard so her daughter could have a good life and always encouraged Jade to do the same. I loved how whenever she was tough with Jade, it came from a place of love and hope for nothing but the best. And I admired the respect Jade had in return, not only for her mother but for where she came from. 

Speaking of where she came from. Often times people judge others based on their address and have preconceived notions about their character. But Jade was really smart and focused. She went to a great school that often overlooked her because of the color of her skin, but still, she kept on and looked for opportunities. Many of the things that came up in the story, mainly things that Jade experienced, made me look into my own life and I could remember moments where I had faced something similar. We may come from completely different backgrounds, but I could understand and relate to how she felt and agreed that her perception was justified and dead-on. For instance, that trip would have benefited Jade just as much as any other student, and she truly worked hard and deserved to go. So her feelings about it were acceptable and I wish that Sam was more understanding. 

Sam's character is like many. She was a good friend to Jade, but certain things made her uncomfortable to discuss and she seemed to rather not talk about it. I grew frustrated with her like Jade because, in times where she should have supported and stood up for her friend, she tried to brush it off and explain away the situation. Thankfully she made an effort later on and they were able to hold on to their friendship. 

There were other elements of the story that intensified my interest, including the whole debacle with Jade getting a mentor. The way she was sort of shoved into that program pissed me off, but I again, Jade was going for as many opportunities as she could so it wasn't surprising that she accepted. But that mentor had me rolling my eyes so much. She needed more mentoring than Jade, which brought back the line in the blurb where "just because her mentor is black doesn’t mean she understands Jade," and that was so true. Glad Jade spoke up and her mentor opened her eyes to reality sooner than later. 

My gosh, I could go on and on with reasons as to why I enjoyed this one but I don't want to give too much away. Loved the writing, the raw depictions of emotion toward horrible events, and that poem at the end was a tearjerker. Such a thought-provoking story. Wonderfully done, Renée.  

About the Author

RENÉE WATSON is the acclaimed author of the teen novel, This Side of Home, and two picture books: Harlem's Little Blackbird and A Place Where Hurricanes Happen, which was featured on NBC Nightly News. Her middle grade novel, What Momma Left Me debuted as an ABA New Voices Pick. She lives in New York City.

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Review: The Partner Track by Helen Wan

Release date: September 17th 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:

A young attorney must choose between the prestige of partnership and the American Dream that she—and her immigrant parents—have come so close to achieving in this riveting debut

In the eyes of her corporate law firm, Ingrid Yung is a “two-fer.” As a Chinese-American woman about to be ushered into the elite rank of partner, she’s the face of Parsons Valentine & Hunt LLP’s recruiting brochures--their treasured "Golden Girl." But behind the firm’s welcoming façade lies the scotch-sipping, cigar-smoking old-boy network that shuts out lawyers like Ingrid. To compensate, Ingrid gamely plays in the softball league, schmoozes in the corporate cafeteria, and puts in the billable hours—until a horrifically offensive performance at the law firm’s annual summer outing throws the carefully constructed image way out of equilibrium.Scrambling to do damage control, Parsons Valentine announces a new “Diversity Initiative” and commands a reluctant Ingrid to spearhead the effort, taking her priority away from the enormous deal that was to be the final step in securing partnership. For the first time, Ingrid finds herself at odds with her colleagues—including her handsome, golden-boy boyfriend—in a clash of class, race, and sexual politics.

*Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

The Partner Track is a realistic eye-opener, reminding us that racism and sexism still exist not only in the corporate world but in society overall. This was a wonderful debut from a talented author who is most certainly going far.

What I'm trying to convey here is that I liked the story. It was very well-written. I felt that Helen really captured the subject matter in such a way, it made me understand the main character and how much she had to deal with to make a name for herself. There were moments I wanted to grab Ingrid and ask, "Why do you put up with this?" because I was getting emotional when she'd experience another situation that was dreadfully uncomfortable even for me. Aside from putting on a brave face everyday (being not only a woman in a male dominated world, but also being Asian in that world) Ingrid was working so hard to make partnership in a far from appreciative law firm and I deeply felt hurt for her. 

Throughout the story, you get a sense of Ingrid wanting to be strong and not put up with the nonsense. There were several moments where she'd question herself about making a stand and speaking out when she didn't agree with things but still, Ingrid would end up leaving it alone. I completely understood. After all, she was close to achieving a long-awaited goal and didn't want to mess it up, especially after being given a greatly significant deal by her boss to handle with a not so capable Justin. She definitely didn't want to ruin her chances of making partnership. 

But after the grotesque event at the company outing, higher-ups wanting to cool the flames by bringing in an individual who wanted to certify how diverse the firm truly was, and then getting involved with the charismatic Murph, it seemed as if everything started to crumble down on Ingrid. And I must say I never considered Murph would do such a thing much less say the things he did. Then again, it was corporate world and not everyone is in your corner. Sadly, Ingrid had to deal with a hard blow to finally realize that no matter how hard she works, her capabilities will only go unnoticed and swept aside.

In terms of character depth, it was all there. Helen did a marvelous job in portraying an independent woman with a likable personality that worked tremendously hard. Like, I admired her as I read and wanted to persevere as much as Ingrid did, after everything she overcame. However, Helen also made it clear that Ingrid was in fact human and wasn't some perfect goody-goody. Ingrid does have a flare when it all gets to be too much, but she's also the first to admit that she doesn't always do the right thing.

I really liked the ending; I liked how everything unfolded. I was rooting for Ingrid from the beginning so I was quite pleased with how things worked out in her favor. Once again, the details were greatly elaborated. I felt as if I was working at a law firm along with the characters and I learned some things along the way. I must add, though, that if the reader doesn't have an open mind or is a bit sensitive then it might be a tricky book to get into. But in my opinion, it was really well done. I recommend!

About the Author

HELEN WAN is Associate General Counsel at the Time Inc. division of Time Warner Inc. Before that, she practiced corporate and media law at law firms in New York. Born in California and raised near Washington, D.C., Wan is a graduate of Amherst College and the University of Virginia School of Law. Her essays and reviews of fiction have been published in "The Washington Post" and elsewhere. She lives in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, with her husband and son.

www.helenwan.com | twitter.com/HelenWan1