4 stars

This is a fantastic YA contemporary that includes issues of race, socioeconomic status, coming of age, changing relationships with friends and family, and an awareness of in/visibility.

Beau, the m.c., is at her sister Katia's funeral when the novel begins, and it's clear from the initial moments that Beau has a lot of trouble to get into and a lot of nebulous issues to sort. Katia's death is the impetus for Beau's internal and external investigations, but finding answers to that situation is only part of Beau's process. Throughout the novel, Beau grapples with memories of Katia, disappointments brought about by stresses in their relationship, some level of displacement (because it's easy to blame a lot on a shady partner, and her friendships and relationships with surviving family members. Beau also thinks about her socioeconomic status quite a bit and considers how this facet of her identity shapes her and differentiates her from others in her circle. In a situation that is fortunately not as relatable for most young readers (putting together the pieces of their sibling's death), Beau is an extremely relatable character and one for whom it is easy to root.

From the cover and blurb, I expected that what I'd love most about this book is the treatment of race. While this is a standout feature, there's so much more to love than may initially meet the eye. I also fervently recommend the audiobook. The narration adds so much here. Goodman is definitely on my to-watch and to-read list, and I suggest that other YA lovers follow suit.

Juliana Goodman's The Black Girls Left standing follows sixteen-year-old Beau following the murder of her sister, Katia, by an off-duty police officer. Beau wants to be an artist and leave Chicago, but right now, the only thing on her mind is that the officer who shot her older sister will get away with it. He accused Katia and her boyfriend of trying to break into her house, but her boyfriend, Jordan, ran off and no one has heard from him. Beau knows that her sister's killer won't be charged without a witness, so she's determined to find Jordan and convince him to testify. She and a friend create an anonymous twitter account to collect tips, but it seems that Katia is quickly yesterday's news, Beau is receiving threats to quit her search, and her only source for tips may or may not be reliable. Goodman's writing is strong and she effectively gives each of her characters unique voices. The storyline was compelling and it was written from a relatable and necessary viewpoint. There were a couple of wonky things happening occasionally that pulled me out of the writing a little bit--clothing was described constantly and if there were three characters in a scene, each character's outfit was described in detail. This is helpful once or twice for important characters because clothing sets tone and identity--how people project themselves is so important to understanding who they are personally, socially, and culturally. But it was a little overdone and felt distracting at times. I also felt like there was a lot going on and readers weren't always given enough context--someone pulled a gun on someone else and I completely missed this scene until it was referenced later on (and I'm still unsure if the scene was actually written or if there was just so much happening that I was distracted), and sometimes characters were referred to without enough context and it takes a minute to figure out who is being referred to. All in all, it was a worthwhile and important read and one that I will absolutely add to my classroom bookshelves.

The story is carved in a way that is both sad and hopeful. Hopeful for a better future knowing her sister wont get to see it. That sentiment in itself makes it sad. Katia's demise is Beau's driving force to do better but at the same time she doesn't give a damn what she shakes and rattles in her quest for answers. The emotional range is the most satisfying part of this contemporary.

A timely and thought-provoking novel about a black teenager dealing with the murder of her older sister by an off-duty police officer. Highly recommend.

It is very rare that stories around police brutality start with the funeral. We slowly learn what happened to Katia, but this is Beau's story. It's one of healing and growth in the aftermath of a highly avoidable tragedy. The story is about Beau coping (and sometimes not well) with the murder of her sister. It's beautiful and thoughtful and gut wrenching. I'm absolutely going to be recommending this one all summer long.

Let me just say this cover is EVERYTHING!!

I really enjoyed the way the author wrote this story. The transitions between the past and present were flawless. The characters were developed. Beau was resilient when it came to her sister’s death. I loved Sonnet and how she was there for Beau. The story went in depth on issues with race and police brutality. Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the ARC.

Juliana Goodman is a new author to me, and when I saw the description of this book on Netgalley I just had to request it. I was so impressed when I found out that this is her debut novel. Her writing style is up there with Angie Thomas and Tiffany D Jackson! I felt my heart breaking for Beau as she tried to navigate her newly shattered life after her sister was murdered by the police. The pacing of the story was great, and I felt myself flipping the pages faster and faster as the plot unfolded. I can’t wait to read her next novel!

This book was absolutely fantastic. I've already added it to our list for order this year and will recommend it to students.