The following version of the book was used to create this study guide: Watson, Renee, Piecing Me Together. Bloomsbury YA, New York, New York, 2017. Kindle AZW file. Jade is a junior at St. Francis High School, an exclusive school for wealthy students where the study body is predominately white.
- Piecing Me Together Short Summary
- Piecing Me Together Chapter 11
- Piecing Me Together Chapter 1 Summary
- Renee Watson Piecing Me Together Summary
Piecing Me Together Chapters 21-40 Summary & Analysis Chapter 21 Summary: “mujer a mujer - woman to woman” The next Woman to Woman gathering is at the home of Sabrina, the program’s founder. Jan 26, 2018 Piecing Me Together is a novel about life as a young African-American in modern-day America. Set in Portland, Oregon, the main character is Jade Butler who attends St. Francis High School on the other side of town, away from her friends and family in predominantly poor, black Northside. Piecing Me Together Chapters 41-60 Summary & Analysis Chapter 41 Summary: “familia - family” Jade has been distancing herself from Maxine since the symphony outing, but she agrees to attend “Soul Food Sunday,” Maxine’s weekly family tradition.
PIECING ME TOGETHER: Intersectionality Discussion Guide
Best Users:Educators, Librarians, Community Groups, Book Clubs, Home Learning
Best Audience: Children Grades 07-12
Best Audience: Children Grades 07-12
ABOUT THE GUIDE
Sometimes it feels like I leave home a whole person, sent off with kisses from Mom, who is hanging her every hope on my future. By the time I get home I feel like my soul has been shattered into a million pieces.
.
Mom’s love repairs me…
.
Listening to these mentors, I feel like I can prove the negative stereotypes about girls like me wrong. That I can and will do more, be more.
.
But when I leave? It happens again. The shattering.
.
And this makes me wonder if a black girl’s life is only about being stitched together and coming undone, being stitched together and coming undone. I wonder if there’s ever a way for a girl like me to feel whole.
--Piecing Me Together
.
Mom’s love repairs me…
.
Listening to these mentors, I feel like I can prove the negative stereotypes about girls like me wrong. That I can and will do more, be more.
.
But when I leave? It happens again. The shattering.
.
And this makes me wonder if a black girl’s life is only about being stitched together and coming undone, being stitched together and coming undone. I wonder if there’s ever a way for a girl like me to feel whole.
--Piecing Me Together
Mayavi tamil serial episode 1. This guide seeks to explore how Jade in the acclaimed young adult novel Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson (Bloomsbury) is “shattered into a million pieces” and how she and her community stitch her back together each day. Jade asks, “I wonder if there’s ever a way for a girl like me to feel whole.” That is a question readers should be asking about themselves and asking about their fellow students. This guide will explore identity, intersectionality, and the challenges and strengths of “piecing” oneself together.
Exploring identity and intersectionality means talking about class, race, and gender. Whatever your comfort level with those conversations, this guide offers preparation, sample dialogue, and book passages to guide that conversation. The guide also offers several “out of the box” teaching suggestions for hands-on engagement.
DOWNLOAD Piecing Me Together Guide (PDF)
ABOUT THE BOOK
Piecing Me Together
By Renee Watson
Published by Bloomsbury USA
Available as Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook
Age Range: 12 – 17 Years
By Renee Watson
Published by Bloomsbury USA
Available as Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook
Age Range: 12 – 17 Years
A timely and powerful story about a teen girl striving for success in a world that too often feels like it wants to break her.
Jade believes she must get out of her poor neighborhood if she’s ever going to succeed. Her mother tells her to take advantage of every opportunity that comes her way. And 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. And just because Maxine, her college-graduate 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.
“A thoughtful testament to the value of growth and of work, of speaking up and of listening, that will resonate with many readers engaged in ‘discovering what we are really capable of.'”
—starred review, BCCB
.
“Jade’s narrative voice offers compelling reflections on the complexities of race and gender, class and privilege, and fear and courage, while conveying the conflicted emotions of an ambitious, loyal girl. Teeming with compassion and insight, Watson’s story trumpets the power of artistic expression to re-envision and change the world.”
—starred review, Publishers Weekly
.
“Through Jade’s insightful and fresh narration, Watson presents a powerful story that challenges stereotypes about girls with ‘coal skin and hula-hoop hips’ who must contend with the realities of racial profiling and police brutality. . . . A timely, nuanced, and unforgettable story about the power of art, community, and friendship.”
—starred review, Kirkus Reviews
—starred review, BCCB
.
“Jade’s narrative voice offers compelling reflections on the complexities of race and gender, class and privilege, and fear and courage, while conveying the conflicted emotions of an ambitious, loyal girl. Teeming with compassion and insight, Watson’s story trumpets the power of artistic expression to re-envision and change the world.”
—starred review, Publishers Weekly
.
“Through Jade’s insightful and fresh narration, Watson presents a powerful story that challenges stereotypes about girls with ‘coal skin and hula-hoop hips’ who must contend with the realities of racial profiling and police brutality. . . . A timely, nuanced, and unforgettable story about the power of art, community, and friendship.”
—starred review, Kirkus Reviews
“This unique and thought-provoking title offers a nuanced meditation on race, privilege, and intersectionality.”
—starred review, School Library Journal
.
“Watson’s story explores a number of important ideas: the challenges and rewards of interracial friendships, the realities of racial stereotyping, and the expression of ideas and emotions through art . . . Jade’s is an important voice.”
—VOYA
.
“A balancing act between class, race, and social dynamics, with Watson constantly undercutting stereotypes and showing no fear in portraying virtues along with vices. The book’s defiance of a single-issue lens will surely inspire discussion and consideration.”
—Booklist
.
“Questions of race, self-acceptance, and self-worth are the focus of this book and will give young women a chance to realize that they are worthwhile just being themselves.all students…would benefit from reading this book.”
—School Library Connection
—starred review, School Library Journal
.
“Watson’s story explores a number of important ideas: the challenges and rewards of interracial friendships, the realities of racial stereotyping, and the expression of ideas and emotions through art . . . Jade’s is an important voice.”
—VOYA
.
“A balancing act between class, race, and social dynamics, with Watson constantly undercutting stereotypes and showing no fear in portraying virtues along with vices. The book’s defiance of a single-issue lens will surely inspire discussion and consideration.”
—Booklist
.
“Questions of race, self-acceptance, and self-worth are the focus of this book and will give young women a chance to realize that they are worthwhile just being themselves.all students…would benefit from reading this book.”
—School Library Connection
Piecing Me Together
Renée Watson
Bloomsbury
Published February 14, 2017
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Piecing Me Together Short Summary
Jade believes the only way she’ll find success is to get out of her neighborhood. That’s why she accepts a scholarship to a privileged, mostly white school. It’s why she puts her studies first—no time for boys, no time for goofing around. As a girl from a poor neighborhood, Jade knows she must appreciate the opportunities that come her way, even those that treat her as less-than. When she joins a mentorship program meant to help “at-risk” (read: black) girls, Jade’s frustration mounts. How is her so-called mentor supposed to teach her anything when she doesn’t have her own life together? How are the group’s pointless activities supposed to change anything for her?
As Jade wrestles with the injustices in her life, she begins to realize the only way things will change is for her to find her own voice, to speak up, and challenge the people around her. Her courage and vulnerability make her story deeply moving and accessible. When she shares her experiences with racism with a white friend, at one point her friend sort of shrugs and says, “I don’t know what you want me to say.” Jade’s ability to articulate this response—support me, believe me, she tells her friend—opens conversation and dialogue about race relations issues.
Overall, this is a rich story. Though Jade’s experiences may be different than some readers, it’s easy to connect with her, to love her, and to understand how she feels and why. It’s easy to cheer for her victories, as a young woman and an artist. I loved that she’s a collagist, and I loved the way her art was a key component of the story. I loved the way history (the story relates some information about York, an African American man who traveled with Lewis and Clark) and poetry played a key role in the story as well.
I definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy contemporary fiction or novels about art and friendship.
Recommended for Ages 12 up.
Cultural Elements
Jade, her family, and her best friend Lee Lee are African American. Her mentor comes from a wealthy African American family. Her friend Sam is a white girl being raised by her grandparents. Jade is studying Spanish hoping for an opportunity to travel in an educational program. Each chapter begins with a Spanish word translated to English.
Jade, her family, and her best friend Lee Lee are African American. Her mentor comes from a wealthy African American family. Her friend Sam is a white girl being raised by her grandparents. Jade is studying Spanish hoping for an opportunity to travel in an educational program. Each chapter begins with a Spanish word translated to English.
Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.
None.
Romance/Sexual Content
Jade attends a meeting with her mentorship group that focuses on dating and relationships. She’s not interested in either one, and the conversation stays pretty vague.
Jade attends a meeting with her mentorship group that focuses on dating and relationships. She’s not interested in either one, and the conversation stays pretty vague.
Spiritual Content
Jade comes home to her mom listening to gospel music and cleaning. Following a terrible event, Jade asks her uncle to say a prayer. He calls prayer a “poor man’s drug,” and tells Jade the person she needs to be talking to isn’t God but politicians who can make changes. Jade prays anyway.
Jade comes home to her mom listening to gospel music and cleaning. Following a terrible event, Jade asks her uncle to say a prayer. He calls prayer a “poor man’s drug,” and tells Jade the person she needs to be talking to isn’t God but politicians who can make changes. Jade prays anyway.
Violent Content
Four police officers beat up an unarmed fifteen-year-old black girl when they break up a party. Jade and her friend hear about it on the news, but feel shaken up.
Four police officers beat up an unarmed fifteen-year-old black girl when they break up a party. Jade and her friend hear about it on the news, but feel shaken up.
Piecing Me Together Chapter 11
Drug Content
None.
None.
Piecing Me Together Chapter 1 Summary
![Summary Summary](/uploads/1/1/7/8/117806978/498621816.png)
Renee Watson Piecing Me Together Summary
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.