Remember Us

Jacqueline Woodson's 'Remember Us' is a poignant middle grade novel following Sage, a young girl in Bushwick, as her neighborhood experiences a series of devastating fires. This backdrop of literal and metaphorical change forces Sage to confront big questions about identity, belonging, and memory. She grapples with evolving friendships and finds solace and understanding in a new friend, Freddy. The story beautifully explores how we hold onto the past while moving forward, making it ideal for children aged 8-12 who are navigating personal growth, community shifts, or the bittersweet nature of change.

National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson brings readers a powerful story that delves deeply into life’s burning questions about time and memory and what we take with us into the future. It seems like Sage’s whole world is on fire the summer before she starts seventh grade. As house after house burns down, her Bushwick neighborhood gets referred to as “The Matchbox” in the local newspaper. And while Sage prefers to spend her time shooting hoops with the guys, she’s also still trying to figure out her place inside the circle of girls she’s known since childhood. A group that each day, feels further and further away from her. But it’s also the summer of Freddy, a new kid who truly gets Sage. Together, they reckon with the pain of missing the things that get left behind as time moves on, savor what’s good in the present, and buoy each other up in the face of destruction. And when the future comes, it is Sage’s memories of the past that show her the way forward. Remember Us speaks to the power of both letting go . . . and holding on.