Published: 2022
Series: N/A
Author: Jas Hammonds
Illustrator: N/A
Genres: Young Adult, LGBT, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Queer, Lesbian, Mystery, Realistic Fiction
Audience (Grade Levels): Grades 9-12
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads Link: We Deserve Monuments
Triggers: Racism, Family Relationships, Terminal Illness
Review By: Heather Kent
Publisher’s Summary:
“Family secrets, a swoon-worthy romance, and a slow-burn mystery collide in We Deserve Monuments, a YA debut from Jas Hammonds that explores how racial violence can ripple down through generations.
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.” (Goodreads)
Review:
Jas Hammonds’ “We Deserve Monuments” is a novel that explores history, identity, and social justice. It serves as a bridge between personal stories and broader social commentary, encouraging students to critically examine their own beliefs and biases. This novel encourages the reader to recognize and celebrate the contributions of historically marginalized individuals. This book is a valuable resource for high school students engaged in discussions about social justice and equality. “We Deserve Monuments” is not just a read; it’s an opportunity for students to expand their perspectives, challenge preconceptions, and engage in meaningful conversations. I loved the characters and the author created characters and relationships that I will not soon forget.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- Social Studies & US History: This book serves as an excellent textual bridge for high school history students to critically analyze the lingering, multi-generational impacts of institutionalized racism and racial violence in the American South.
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Centering on complex family dynamics, terminal illness, and personal identity, the narrative offers deep connections for students navigating difficult interpersonal relationships, grief, and self-acceptance.
- English Language Arts (ELA): Ideal for upper-level high school classrooms focusing on modern young adult literature, exploring how authors successfully blend genre elements like mystery, romance, and realistic contemporary fiction.
- Extension Activity / Library Application:
- High School Literature Circles & Book Clubs: This title is highly recommended for student-led choice boards, library book clubs, or social justice reading groups targeting grades 9-12.
- Critical Inquiry Reflection: Paired with independent reading, students can complete an extension activity where they research real-world historic “monuments” or write a reflective essay exploring how small-town histories hide deeper socio-political truths, connecting to Avery’s journey in Bardell.
- Diversity & Representation: This YA debut excels in supporting diversity, equity, and meaningful representation by centering queer Black joy alongside systemic hardships. Through the intersecting lives of Avery, Simone, and Jade, Hammonds explicitly recognizes and celebrates the lived realities of historically marginalized communities, creating unforgettable characters that offer vital representation for LGBTQ+ youth of color.
Readalikes:
- You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
- The Black Queen by Jumata Emill
