I absolutely loved this book! As I think about trying to capture what it's about and how to summarize it, I realize that it is an incredibly layered and complex story. Spectacular!

Avery moves with her parents to her mother's hometown of Bardell, Georgia to help take care of her grandmother, Mama Letty, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Avery hasn't been to Bardell since she was five and her memories of that visit are negative but blurry. She feels immediately drawn to her next door neighbor, Simone, who has known Mama Letty for her entire life and whose mother, Carole, seems to have some feelings or judgments about Avery's mom. As Avery spends more time in Bardell, her priorities start to shift. She feels less and less connected to her old life in DC, the college-focused, achievement-driven hustle and bustle, and she feels more connected to Simone and her best friend, Jade. She also starts to become increasingly sad and curious about Mama Letty, despite her tough outward attitude, so she makes efforts to spend more time with her before she is gone from her life forever. As her relationships develop, Avery learns about a host of family and town secrets that range from secret relationships to kidnappings to conspiracy theories to murder. And it becomes clear to Avery that the closer she gets to Mama Letty, and the more she is drawn to Simone, the more complicated her life will become.

:spoiler below:
I was absolutely loving this book and so on board, but the surprise ending with what happened to Jade's mother and how Mama Letty was involved felt too rushed. It seemed like such an important crux to the story and I almost missed it. I wish that revelation had been given the same time and care that all of the character development and beautiful scenes had been. But this book is still a winner for me, even with this one issue.

This is a powerful story set in Bardell, Georgia in the present day as well as around the mid-1970s. There is generational trauma, racial violence, and fear of being LGBTQ in a small rural town during both time frames. Avery Anderson gets uprooted from life in DC to spend her senior year in Georgia with her terminally ill estranged grandmother. In DC there was a level of pressure and expectation that followed her everywhere she went. In Bardell, she planned to keep her head down and just make it through the year, but a special friendship develops with Simone, her next-door-neighbor, and Jade, the daughter of the most prominent white family in the town. Avery is openly gay and stands out in Bardell, but her friendship with Simone and Jade make it the most comfortable place she has ever been. Secrets of the past continue to come out from beneath the rocks and Avery struggles to keep her anger in check. Peeling back the layers of Mama Letty, Zora, and Avery, this is a family that must find a way to love again. An incredibly powerful debut novel that kept me wanting more during both of my reads.

- WE DESERVE MONUMENTS is a knockout of a book. This book covers everything from the annoyances of being a teenager to generational trauma, and it's delivered in a story that's both beautiful and page-turning.
- I loved watching the relationships between the women of Avery's family untangle and grow. Hammonds doesn't gloss over how painful it can be to uncover family history, but also that love can still be buried under all of it.
- On top of all this, there's also an exploration of what it means to be young, Black and queer in the South today. I'll truly be thinking of this book for a long time to come.

As I do with all books, I went into this blind. I don’t know why I was thinking it was going to be a romance that made me laugh and swoon. It was more like a coming of age murder mystery that also had a romance in it. And as you know, because it’s a coming of age book, there’s a lot of stuff the main character learns and finds out about themself. And let me just say, this was the most fun I’ve had with a coming of age book in a long time.

Hands down, the best part of this was the characters. I LOVED Avery. She was angsty and serious and so so authentic. I really loved it. She was so mature for her age! I loved the way she took no ish from anyone, including her mom lol Then there was her mama, her grandma, her dad, and of course Simone and Jade. Every single person in this book brought something to the book. I hate when you can automatically tell what each character is there for. But this wasn’t like that at all. Her grandmother brought the drama, her mom and dad were there for the angst (she IS a teen after all), and Simone is there for the love inerest. And every time, no matter who was on the page, I was stuck to the pages. (Ear phones? This was the audio lol)

The plot of this was immaculate. I would have liked it a bit more, if we had a little more focus on the murder mystery. I also think the reason it wasn’t written that way was because it would take some of the focus away from her grandma’s story, so I guess it was ok the way it was. Because Lordt knows she needed all the front page time she could get. Now the pacing tho, I think could have been a little better. For it to be less than 300 pages, it seemed awfully long. I think spreading some of the info out and adding more to the story could have helped a tiny bit.

I know I like a book when I go through all my emotions while I read it. And this is one of those books. I swooned, I laughed, I SOBBED, like I’m being so serious, I felt all the things. I cannot wait until more of y’all read this book and tell me more about how you also cried. Because if you don’t I will think something is broken within you. Because yo, I was sobbing into my lunch. I thank goodness for working from home still because I don’t think I would have been able to make it if I had read that part in public. But I don’t want you to get caught up in all the parts that deal with grief like the look at the generational trauma that started with Momma Letty and Ray. I also swooned when Avery and Simone transformed from friends to something more, when her grandma was talking about Ray, even when her parents were just dancing in the kitchen. I definitely laughed when Simone was saying what she smelled like after work and how they made fun of Jade’s parents. Hammonds had to have put their heart into this book because the vice grip this book had on mine was crazy.


I dare say this is one of my favorite books all year. I really need more of you to read this book. I guess I’m just going to have to yell it from the rooftops now because Y’ALL NEED TO READ THIS! I really hope you get it in your hands soon. I need more people to talk about it with because days later I am still thinking about this book!

I had the pleasure of meeting Jas Hammonds at Yall Fest in Charleston, SC where I also was able to grab a signed ARC. This book deserves more hype, and it is by far the best debut novel that I read in 2022 which makes me quite frustrated by Goodreads which doesn't include YA authors in this category.

Anyway, not only did the book have a fast-paced plot with mystery to keep the reader intrigued, but it also had expertly crafted characters. Jas Hammonds had me captivated from the beginning with the beautiful prose, and I couldn't put this book down. The complicated family dynamics were perfectly portrayed along with the powerful teenage friendships. I especially loved how Avery's relationships with her mom and grandmother evolved throughout the story as she sought to better understand them, and I appreciated how the teens fought for their town to reckon with racial injustices from the past; it was definitely a reminder of the power that our students hold within our classrooms.

This book should definitely be on more people’s TBR!

While I was reading the beginning of this book, there wasn't enough to hook me or keep me interested in reading. I only did so because I knew that I had an ARC and that I should be reading it before it came out. (Though I forgot to write a review until now, my bad.) Once the book picked up in pace, it was very good!! Though I don't generally like to read books that have a tone that leans more on the sad side, I think this book did it well. We Deserve Monuments covered heavy topics in a way that I felt was not only appropriate for a young adult audience but would also appeal to an older crowd as well. Though there are things that I could not relate to that took place, I could relate to others, which I feel is a strength of this book.

I would definitely pick up another book by this author.

An incredibly moving story of a queer teen coming to terms with her life. When she moves with her parents to live with her dying grandmother in a small souther town her world is turned upside down. She discovers new friends and learns new things about herself and her family. An emotionally driven story that will stick with you long after the last page is turned.

We Deserve Monuments is a novel that focuses on family, history, secrets and a little bit of mystery. This was a well crafted young adult debut that looks at how generations of racial prejudices, violence and grudges can affect family and lives alike.

What I enjoyed most was the character development between Avery, Simone and Jade. Each one of these characters is fighting against a stigma that is so richly relevant that I almost neglected to recall there was a mystery entangled in this novel. I can't forget the years of mother/daughter estrangement due to a massive family secret and the inability to accept a daughters representation. Such a beautifully explored look at queer representation over time and the difference between small town lives and city living.

There is so much in this novel that was easy to fall in love with. My emotions and heart were triggered more times than I could count. Even at my age when high school issues seem mundane, this novel made it so much more deeper across decades of family strife.

The audio is narrated by Tamika Katon-Donegal wonderfully if you're an audiobook lover like me. I loved the different voices from grudgy Mama Letty to sassy Simone. Tameka keeps in character with a captivating voice from start to finish.

In the spirit of family generations, embracing differences and enjoying every last difficult moment.. We Deserve Monuments is that and so much more.

Thank you RB Media, Recorded Books, Fierce Reads, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Roaring Brook Press!

4.50 Stars. An excellent YA novel with all the feels. As a huge YA fan this was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I had a feeling this book would be a tough read, but I had no idea I would be ugly crying for half of the book. If you are going to read this book, then I highly recommend keeping a box of tissues next to you. There are a lot of TWs for the book including racism, homophobia, murder, cancer and that is not a full list. As tough as this book was to read at times, and as much trauma it deals with, underneath it was these stories of love and life that made you feel, and it gave you hope that these characters could get past some of their pain in time. And it kept you reading and reading because you just had to find out.

I really enjoyed almost everything in the whole book, I think my only complaint, and why I didn’t give this a full 5 stars, is that I felt the book started a little slow. I kept picking the book up and putting it down, over and over. It really took me a while to find my reading groove. Once the book picks up, about a quarter in, the story changes and I could not put the book back down. It had its hooks in me and I had the tissues in my hand for the rest of the night.

There is a very light sapphic romance. What is there romance-wise is very sweet and cute, but one character is just deciding her sexuality, so it is really light. There is also a light mystery in the book, but I would say that the mystery is a little bigger than the romance was, but it is not the biggest part of the book yet still a very interesting part. My mystery loving brain was proud to have figured it out before it was revealed because it was not easy to guess, and I really enjoyed the twists and turns.

In the end I would absolutely recommend this queer contemporary YA, especially if you enjoy more emotional stories. The fact that this is Hammonds’, debut book and their writing is this good already makes me really excited to imagine what they could have instore for us next.

Wow! This is an outstanding debut YA novel about three generations of strong women navigating the past, present, and future, and wondering if they should do it in their own or with one another, Jes Hammond seemingly interweaves the complex topics of racism, sexuality, cancer, family secrets, and socioeconomic status in such a way that keep you turning the pages and wanting more. With a list of topics that sounds like too much for one book, this novel is so well-written, you won’t even notice how much it covered until you reflect back with disappointment that the book is over.

"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."

I didn't think I could do better than this summary so I didn't try.
This one was a gut-punch. I was captivated from beginning to end, the characters were flawed yet so endearing in every way. I truly loved it. It broached a lot of different subjects and I enjoyed that a lot. The ending took me completely by surprised and I loved that.
It was truly such an enthralling book, with great dynamics between the characters. I also got the audio on netgalley (on top of the ebook) and I liked the narrator quite a lot.
Basically, I recommend this. Go read it. The fact that it's a debut is mind-blowing too. Cannot wait from more from Jas Hammonds.

I am really heartened to have recently read so many books tackling the generational trauma of racism and how its legacy impacts the present in really personal ways. This book follows Avery, a Black high schooler from Washington DC as she returns with her mom and white dad to her estranged and dying grandmother's house in a Georgia town that still bears the marks of racism in its schools, neighborhoods, and statues.
I loved this story about finding community and refusing to be forgotten. Avery's bravery in building a relationship with her grandma, fighting for and being there for Simone as she figures out her sexuality, and standing up to Jade's family was touching and inspiring.

Few are the books that make me bawl like a baby. Fewer still are the books that make me cry that I nonetheless like, much less love, and still want to read over, and over, and over again.

We Deserve Monuments ripped my heart out and tore it into teeny, tiny shreds, and then sewed it back together with its bittersweet ending. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

I have colleagues who love YA, and I love them for it. I've only really appreciated a few, mostly for their ability to make me want to turn the page, but not for the content or artistry very often. I think what frustrates me about YA is that so often a central plot involves love interests, and this does too--but it isn't the main thrust of the story. Instead, we go south to Georgia from DC, and three generations of women become the most important storyline, why relationships crack and shatter, what lies beneath the shiny veneer of a small town. I won't say this is a novel that I'd want to buy a class set of to read with my students, but it's definitely one I will buy a handful of copies of to have on hand for independent reading--it's got a richness I think would add value to their reading lives.

A thoughtful and equally enjoyable journey that shares diverse experiences in a way that honors them. There was so much depth packed into this book, and I loved getting transported into the story to live through the characters.

4.5 stars

This was a slow-burn small-town mystery that wormed its way into my head and heart and didn't want to let go. Even though I had to take breaks for life, I couldn't wait to get back to the story. I loved Avery with all her strengths and flaws and I identified with having to move your senior year after you imagined graduating with your best friends and having an awesome senior year. Avery has grown up as the biracial daughter of an overachieving black woman and a very down-to-earth jazz musician white father in D.C. She has vague memories of her grandmother in small-town Georgia, but really knows nothing about her maternal grandparents or the home in which her mom grew up. With a terminal cancer diagnosis, her parents make the difficult decision to move down to help care for her grandmother, even if it means temporarily uprooting their lives and her mother having to face her past.

I absolutely don't want to give you any spoilers because I want you to enjoy this book as it unfolds. There are content warnings that include murders, homophobia, anti-Black hate crime/racism, terminal illness, grief, alcoholism, police brutality, and the long-term effects of trauma. And yet, despite the dark subjects, Hammonds intersperses them with love, romantic or otherwise, that keeps the book from getting bogged down by the darkness.

I loved Avery's huge heart, and her desire to help her grandmother and mother. I loved how she learned that not only could she not fix everything, but it wasn't her job to do so. I loved her moments with her grandmother and her desire to help her go on her own terms, and yes, I cried with her several times. I also loved that while her father was often there in the background, he was an integral part of her support system and a great complement to her mom's style of parenting. I loved the scene that took place in the ice cream shop.

This was such a strong debut novel and I look forward to reading more from this author. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Such a good read! I was instantly drawn to the characters. This was a a easy read for me with the main characters being relatable. I even found myself enjoying Mama Letty. I wished Mama Letty's outcome could have been better, but that's life. In the end, I rooted for Avery and Simone and fell in love with their love story.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jas at the Young Adult Librarian Symposium in Baltimore this month and they were an absolute delight! I watched them speak on a panel and they spoke of what this story truly meant to them and the changes it went through during their writing process and I think going into the story with that knowledge made the book mean even more to me. The way Jas wrote their characters with truth and flaws and realness was so refreshing. We got a queer black girl romance, family secrets, a bit of mystery and a comical cast of characters. I loved every second of it

Thank you #netgalley for an early read of #WeDeserveMonuments in exchange for my honest review. Full disclosure, I received a signed copy at the beginning of the month from Jas themselves and I switched between my physical copy and the e-galley!

Oh wow. This book was so much. It has absolutely destroyed me, my heart is so shattered, but it was so dang good. I want to read it again and experience it all again, because it's a pain that you want to feel. There was so much said in few words, there are certain sentences squeezed in at just the right parts, just a small bunch of words tucked into a corner, that change everything in this story. If you're not careful, you might miss them. There are parts I read over and over because I had to go back and read it again. Yes, there's romance, and mystery, but once all the pieces are out and assembled, and you see the whole picture, you just have to go back and read it again knowing everything that you know and seeing it from a different perspective. Avery's story, growing up biracial and queer, moving to a Southern small town and adjusting to the change of pace and lifestyle, is sure to resonate with a lot of teens. Her mother Zora is such a strong, smart, fierce woman, who fought her way to the life she wanted, and she's so admirable. And Mama Letty? I will forever love Mama Letty. That woman is the definition of cantankerous, and by God she's earned it, and every cranky word out of her mouth made me smile, and even though her story was heartbreaking, it needed to be heard. I feel like this book is going to stick with me for a long time, I don't think I have cried this hard over a book all year. All the stars. All the awards. All the love.

The word that comes to mind when I finished this book was: powerful ❤️‍🩹


What I loved:
1. The diversity! Many of our main characters are black and queer (Avery, Simone, numerous parents).
2. The characters. Wow. There were so many well written characters. I enjoyed the fast friendship of Avery, Jade and Simone. Mamma Letty was a standout—her tough exterior and stories were a highlight. Avery’s relationship with her parents were realistic and relatable.
4. The generational trauma in this book was heartbreaking and written perfectly for a young reader to understand, while it still be impactful for any age. There were many heavy themes in this book, but it was written so dedicatedly. You truly could feel all the character’s emotions when they would argue and understand each of their unique perspectives.
5. Notable scenes: when Avery and Simone go out for the night to the place their moms hung out, there was so much freedom and joy and confusion all wrapped up in one. The beach scene with the 3 generations of women talking and dancing brought me to tears. Beautiful..

Absolutely heart wrenching and beautifully written—easy 5 ⭐️ read. This is definitely a book I’ll be thinking about for a long time and will definitely be adding into my book list for the school year. Thank you for writing such an impactful story—I’m so grateful for authors like yourself who are writing complex and inclusive stories for our YAs. ❤️ I am amazed this is a debut and can’t wait to read more in the future!