Rain Washington is in eighth grade which is such a hard time in life during the maturing process. Rain’s self esteem is about as low as it can get. She can’t seem to find anything to like about herself and lives in a state of persistent sadness. She wishes her name were more creative, thinks her skin is too dark, and her body to large. Making it worse is her absentee father. And for that reason her single mother’s work schedule is brutal and takes her away much of the time. Yet, the good part of her life is her mother and popular and doting older brother Xander.

Life becomes even worse for Rain’s family after Xander who goes by X becomes the victim of a brutal and nearly fatal attack by White fraternity members. This occurs while visiting a prospective college with a football teammate from his elite prep school.
Rain is aided in her struggle by the school counselor who provides Rain and her family the opportunity to confront trauma, develop healthy coping responses, and a plan to move forward. The family is not only dealing with Xander’s beating, there are also past hurts and depression that may be genetic.

I felt such emotional hurt for Rain snd her family as if it had happened to my own loved one.

This is a timely story that focuses on a young girl and her struggles. Lucky for Rain she accepted help rather than hiding behind her sadness to allow for healing through professionals snd newfound friendships. Author Courtne Conroe deftly writes about complex emotions and weighty topics, including poverty, self-harm, and racism.

While the story is about a Black boy attacked by White, this is not the focus.

The novel is written in verse with 259 short chapters, some only a few words long. Her pacing is perfect.

Thus is a debut novel destined to make a statement in middle school libraries and classrooms.

This book is a great middle grade novel that explores so many important topics such as racial injustice, mental health, and asking for help when you need it. Often when there are that many "heavy-hitting" topics in a book it can seem forced and scattered, but this novel artfully wove them all together into a cohesive, compelling story. The characters are relatable which helps readers connect to them. This novel would be a great addition to any middle or high school bookshelf.

Well written, novel in verse depicting the breakdown of a family due to a racist event in the life of a young male , called X, on the verge of gaining “the All American Dream”. Rising from the ruins is a new sense of self acceptance and a path to a life meant just for X. This gut wrenching novel in verse is filled with authentic and complex emotions sharing the journey this family takes to self awareness and honoring one’s self!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and HarperCollins for allowing me to review this book with an ARC!
This book comes out September 27, 2022

TW/CW:: Suicidal thoughts, trauma, assault, racism, body dysmorphia, ED, depression, anxiety

I'm putting this out here right now: This book should be required reading.

The way the author tackles every nuance that goes into being a thirteen-year-old just trying to make it by, mental illness, trauma, and family-- whew! They deserve an award for that alone. I can't even describe how much this book touched me. I spent 80% of it crying because it hit so deep emotionally.

We follow Rain, a thirteen-year-old girl who struggles with body issues and has a best friend who doesn't seem to 'get' her anymore. When her older brother is the victim of a hate crime, her world takes a turn for the worst. Can Rain help heal herself and her family emotionally? How can we find the strength to go on again?

Written in verse, this emotional story really delivered on everything promised and more. The characters were all relatable, loveable, and (most importantly) real. Rain's journey will be relatable to anyone who picks this up, and I hope maybe it will help heal those who do.

Comrie helps destigmatize therapy and depression by showing us that having a support group of people can help heal those in even the darkest of places. She shows us that sometimes being strong is about being honest, even when it's hard. And that being your true authentic self is the best version of you.

I could go on forever about my love for this book. It helped heal my inner child in a lot of ways that I didn't even know I needed.

Appropriately titled “Rain Rising”!
This YA novel focuses on one family, one girl, who overcomes so much. Rain, a middle schooler, who lives with her mother and older brother, Xander. It is told through the eyes, voice, and emotions of Rain. Rain’s emotions run DEEP. She has fears of her own that get even more compounded when her brother, Xander has a major incident. An incident that rocks the whole family. But with the help of those around her, she finds her voice, her passion, and Herself!!! She soon becomes that “gentle force” of Rain Rising. A novel for those young and old; a coming off age story and a tear jerker definitely!
Thank you Net Galley and Harper Collins Publishing for allowing me an advanced digital copy for my honest review.
Courtne Comrie did an excellent job in writing this book. She puts a lot of passion and emotion in her writing. She brings the characters to life in such a way that you feel every dream, every year, every triumph. I can’t wait to read more of her books.

A girl who struggles with self-esteem movingly, and believably, faces trauma, and comes out on the other side not just intact, but stronger. (Depictions of depression and self-harm may upset some readers.)

I really enjoyed readying this. I really related to a lot of the issues the Rain struggled with (body image, depression, etc.) and while we do see her struggle alone for a good chunk of the novel, we do finally see her begin to get help and come out on the other side. I think that is what I most enjoyed about this was that we were able to see her go to therapy and deal with her issues. We also get to see her deal with her issues alongside classmates in the circle group which was another great addition to the novel. I really enjoyed those moments and hope that other readers will be able to take the lessons that Rain learns there to heart for themselves if they are struggling as well. I think the only thing that felt "off" to me in this was I wasn't completely sold that the novel needed to be told in verse. I also wasn't entirely sure that the line breaks were completely correct, I've seen in other ARCs that the line breaks have been off vs what is in the final version. There were definitely some very nice, beautiful moments but I felt like they could have been conveyed in prose as well. Otherwise, I think this novel was very well done and a great addition to children's literautre.

I love books that make me feel things, and Rain Rising absolutely delivers. It tackles depression, trauma, assault, with a gentleness and care that culminates in a story of hope and family and love, even if everything isn’t “fixed” in the end. I adored Rain’s growth and the nuance of her relationship with Xander and her mom, as well as learning to be her own person and making new friends who like her for herself, rather than who they want her to be. All around a fantastic, emotional read that made me cry so much, but was worth all the tears.

8th grader Rain Washington is sad. All the time. This only gets worse when her brother, Xander, is attacked on a college visit. Then her favorite teacher invites her to a circle group and things begin to change. This middle grade novel in verse explores the depths of several heavy topics including racism, colorism, and mental illness in a way that its target audience can empathize with.

Rain and her family were fantastic characters. Xander is the brilliant student athlete, their mother is giving 110% of herself to make sure that her children have all of their needs met, and Rain is a beautiful soul trying to find her place in the world.

This was overall a fantastic and heart-wrenching story of family bonds and healing.

CW: racism, self-harm, mental illness

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this middle grade novel in verse that explores family (especially brother/sister relationships), identity, and race! It was definitely a tear jerker and my heart for Rain and her family.

What I loved most about this is that Rain is 13--this is an age we don't get a lot of books about. This makes it great for older middle school readers who are getting ready to transition to YA fiction. Comrie's verse is gorgeous and I devoured this book in one sitting.

I'll be recommending this to fans of Sharon Draper and Renee Watson! Courtne Comrie is definitely a new author to watch, and I'll be looking forward to reading more of their work.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for an ARC to review.

Ok, where should I start? Novel-in-verse are usually a hit or miss for me but this was poetry in motion. Rain is darkskin, large with type 4c hair which makes her believe she's not good enough. She struggles to find happiness everyday but when she's around her mother and brother, Xander who is a 'scholar-athlete' she smiles more. Her best friend Nara is a lightskin girl with looser curls, a boyfriend and her family has a bit more money so she's able to uber around effortlessly. Her best friend has also garnered new friends who unlike Rain are always in the mirror, using makeup and getting attention from other popular kids and boys.

Rain continues to struggle with loving her hair, body type and skin complexion but thing take a turn for the worse when her brother is a victim to violence while on a campus tour.

This book is a must-have for darkskin girls because it really invokes how anti-black society is, even for little girls.

Interesting and often very intense work. I'm not sure I've seen the topic of self harm covered in this style before, but it was woven beautifully into issues of racism and multi-generational trauma. This book could easily end up in school curriculum or a popular read. The conclusion has so much hope and uplift, it really was a beautiful read.

Rain Rising is a strong debut from Courtne Comri. This book is about Rain Washington, an 8th grader who is struggling with friendships and self-esteem. This is accelerated when her brother, who she is extremely close to, is attacked in a racial hate crime. After that, he isn't the same, and her family struggles with the aftermath. This is an emotional read. The author did a good job of developing these characters and plot in her prose. Mental health is a focus in this novel. Powerful read. I can't wait to see what is next from this author.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Rain struggles with low self-worth, but X (Xander), her older brother, always makes her feel better. When he’s assaulted, Rain sinks into a further depression. New friends help some, but it isn’t until Rain is offered counseling that she finds some help and is told “to uncover your own truth.” She’s told she can’t fix everything not even her brother, but that’s okay because life isn’t perfect. A few things happen that could change how Rain feels about herself. Are those enough to give her a positive and better outlook toward herself and life? Great book about mental wellness.

Rain Rising is an incredible middle-grade novel that should be on all library shelves. This book provides a powerful mirror for young readers who may be feeling the same way Rain is. Rain has been dealing with some turbulent emotions when her beloved big brother is attacked at a party. She is suddenly overwhelmed with her thoughts and fears and isn't sure how to cope anymore. This book provides hope, honesty about mental health, and a chance for readers to reflect.

Perfect for readers of Blended and Genesis Begins Again.

This is a heart-wrenching and necessary novel-in-verse about eighth grader Rain Washington and the myriad of things she's struggling with: physical and mental self esteem, fake friends, internalized racism, and a lack of emotional support take an even bigger toll on her when her older brother Xander is violently assaulted by a group of white college boys. Rain Rising tells readers that they deserve to be seen, they deserve good things, and that they deserve to rise up from life's most difficult circumstances. Please be advised that this novel contains depictions of self-harm.

I've grown fond of novels in verse as they can tell a powerful story in so few words. Rain is a character so many kids need to know. Her story connects with junior high kids in a way that many adults don't want to admit. She struggles with her confidence and who she is as her own person. She lives with mental health struggles that have been passed down through multiple generations. After a terrifying incident makes her brother, the strong, smart, athletic, practically perfect Xander, the victim of physical assault, Rain's world and family shattered. They must work to find a way to be honest with each other in order to find healing. Rain also discovers new friends and new activities that help her realize she is a valuable and worthy human, she just has to accept it for herself.