Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Black Girls Left standing follows our Main character as she goes on a journey to get answers to the questions surrounding the murder of her older sister by an off duty officer. On this journey we see the main character struggle with family issues, friend issues, her own grief and trying to understand whether her sister deserved what happened to her.

Major THUG vibes - which I loved. The story was portrayed in a way that felt very real. My heart broke for Beau as she struggled through a very emotional time navigating not only high school and racial injustice, but the death of her sister as well.

I absolutely love the narration. I was never bored listening and Ms. Blake did a phenomenal job keeping the story flowing and giving the characters life. Kudos!

Audiobook Review - The Black Girls Left Standing is a gripping story of Beau, a high school student, who recently lost her sister in a police involved shooting. Beau struggles to find justice for her sister and balance school, friends, romance and her future. Amazing characters and fantastic storytelling! Highly recommended for all libraries serving teens.

The story of Beau trying to navigate her life in High School after her sister dies at the hands of a police officer. She tries to find justice for her sister while navigating friends and struggling with family issues. When she finds the key witness it comes with a cost. Is the cost worth the truth? Will justice be served? What is the price of a life.

This is a riveting story about a girl on a mission to clear her sister’s name after she’s murdered by an off-duty police officer who accuses her of breaking and entering. The reader (listener) accompanies Beau, our main character on her investigative journey. Despite there being the main goal of clearing her sister Katia’s name, we see Beau also trying to navigate life as a high school student, daughter and friend.

Despite the family relationship not being perfect, I love the representation of both parents being present in the black household. I enjoyed the interesting twist as well.

I did get somewhat bored with some moments of whining and self-pity but I suppose that is what one would expect from a teenager. The story also showcased the different parent-child dynamics that can, and often do, exist in our society.

At the end, we see our MC learning lessons about life and herself which is always a good experience for any character to go through.

Ariel Blake did an excellent job in bringing out the emotions of the characters, hence bringing them to life as a listener.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley I was given the opportunity to read (hear) an advanced audio copy of this gem of a novel.

If you loved THUG you'll love this heartbreakingly beautiful novel about lose. This gem of a novel follows Beau's (a 16 year old student and artist who happens to be black) journey of finding out what really happened the night her older sister Kitia was murdered by an off duty (white) police officer. This story broke my heart in so many ways, it's was beautifully written and is one of my favourite novels of the year.

This story is extremely important, especially with all the hate and racism that is still a very real part of society.

The Black Girls Left Standing takes a look at the aftermath of a Black teen's murder by a white police officer. Beau's sister Katia is killed after they say she was accused of breaking and entering, but Beau knows her sister. She knows that Katia would never do something they accused her of. The only problem is that Jordan, Katia's loser boyfriend and the only witness to the crime, is missing. Beau and her friend hope to find Jordan, so they can clear Katia's name and make sure she doesn't become just another Black teen killed.

This book examines the life of one Black girl in the aftermath of her sister's death, and what Beau goes through is painfully real. My heart ached for Beau trying to navigate not only the death of her sister but also everything else life decides to throw at her after that. The fact that Beau feels like she has to act like an adult is an awful reality for many teens in the wake of tragedy. Their childhood is ripped from them, and they are forced to grow up almost instantaneously. The realness of this book is the hardest thing of all. Despite that, I think this is an important read for everyone, especially in light of all the recent news,

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. Ariel Blake was an excellent narrator. Beau's spirit really shone through in her narration. I definitely recommend this book to everyone.

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.