We Deserve Monuments
"An absolute must read." ―Buzzfeed
"A gripping portrayal of the South's inherent racism and a love story for queer Black girls." ―Teen Vogue
Family secrets, a swoon-worthy romance, and a slow-burn mystery collide in We Deserve Monuments, the award-winning debut novel from Jas Hammonds.
What’s more important: Knowing the truth or keeping the peace?
Seventeen-year-old Avery Anderson is convinced her senior year is ruined when she's uprooted from her life in DC and forced into the hostile home of her terminally ill grandmother, Mama Letty. The tension between Avery’s mom and Mama Letty makes for a frosty arrival and unearths past drama they refuse to talk about. Every time Avery tries to look deeper, she’s turned away, leaving her desperate to learn the secrets that split her family in two.
While tempers flare in her avoidant family, Avery finds friendship in unexpected places: in Simone Cole, her captivating next-door neighbor, and Jade Oliver, daughter of the town’s most prominent family―whose mother’s murder remains unsolved.
As the three girls grow closer―Avery and Simone’s friendship blossoming into romance―the sharp-edged opinions of their small southern town begin to hint at something insidious underneath. The racist history of Bardell, Georgia is rooted in Avery’s family in ways she can’t even imagine. With Mama Letty's health dwindling every day, Avery must decide if digging for the truth is worth toppling the delicate relationships she's built in Bardell―or if some things are better left buried.
Book At A Glance
# of Pages: 384
Book Binding: Paperback
Year of Publication: 2024
Publisher: Square Fish
Language: en
ISBN: 9781250327932
Creator Bio
Jas Hammonds is an up-and-coming author with a passion for storytelling and social justice. Born and raised in the Midwest, Hammonds draws inspiration from their experiences growing up in a diverse community and witnessing the struggles and triumphs of marginalized groups. With a degree in English and a background in activism, Hammonds uses their writing to shed light on important issues and spark important conversations. "We Deserve Monuments" is their debut novel, a thought-provoking and powerful exploration of race, identity, and the fight for recognition in modern America. Hammonds continues to write and advocate for underrepresented voices, using their platform to create meaningful change.
