A review by internationalkris
Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson

4.0

I really enjoyed this Newbery Honor Book, but it didn't have a lot of action or drama to it so I would only give it to kids looking for a quiet and reflective read. The main character Jade lives in a rough neighborhood in Portland but she takes the bus everyday to a prep school where she is able to get a great education and lots of opportunities. Jade's life isn't easy but she consistently makes good decisions for herself as she works on her art (photography and collage) and learns to advocate for herself. At one pivotal point in the book Jade is not given a place on the week-long service trip to Central America. She is one of the top kids in Spanish class and when she confronts the teacher about the decision she emphasizes to him that even though she has been given spots in other programs that will offer her support, what she really wants is to be given a chance to offer her skills to others.