Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson

 

Yesterday evening, I finished reading Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson. This historical fiction book taking place in the 1970s is about Sage, an African American girl whose Bushwick neighborhood in Brooklyn is being destroyed by fire. The summer before she starts seventh grade, she befriends Freddy, a boy who has just moved to her neighborhood. Although she's figuring out her place as a girl, she enjoys playing basketball with Freddy and the other boys. As they try to move forward into an uncertain future, they contemplate memories and missing things from the past.

Although the writing of this novel is sparse, I really enjoyed reading it because the story is profound. I thought it was really interesting how Sage and Freddy had deep thoughts and questions about life even though they were young. It seemed scary to live in Bushwick during the 1970s, hearing the sirens of fire engines often, smelling smoke, and not knowing if your house or apartment would be the next to be taken by fire. Bushwick was even known as "The Matchbox" at the time, which I found quite ominous. I felt bad that Sage, Freddy, and the other kids had to live with so much uncertainty because everything they knew could be taken away in an instant. Not to mention, they had to cope with the possibility of losing or leaving friends. Even Sage's mom had plans for them to move away once she saved up enough money. I also related to Sage's struggle as a girl. I know what it's like to feel like you're not girl enough because you're interested in things that are typically thought of as masculine. Additionally, I liked how Woodson included a blurb at the end of the book about the history of Bushwick in the 1970s and 1980s because it gave more context to the story. With its themes of time, memory, and friendship, anyone should read Remember Us.