Rain Remembers

by Courtne Comrie Narrated by Angel Pean

Overview

""A satisfying, well-written, and authentic sequel highlighting the ways healing and self-love are ongoing processes."" -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)*

""Comrie again proves skilled in discussing topics of harassment, mental health, and (via a subplot about a friend's uncle) the deportation system, in verse as lyrically captivating as that of its predecessor. Rain and her friends remain sympathetic characters to connect with and root for."" -Horn Book Reviews

In the companion novel to the critically acclaimed Rain Rising, Rain must once again find the strength to rise above.

The start of the school year is bringing a lot of changes for Rain: New school. No Circle Group. No Dr. McCalla. No Miss Walia. No step team. And Xander, her older brother and superhero, is away at college.

Although everyone else seems okay with change, Rain struggles to open up to her new counselor, her mom, Umi, Alyssa, and even Xander, who seems to have forgotten all about her while away at college. But when an older boy starts giving*Rain more attention than she asked for-will she be able to open up again before things go too far?

As Kirkus Reviews said of Rain Rising: ""A gorgeous debut: a necessary, cathartic, immersive healing experience.” Readers will be eager to follow Rain in this companion novel. Like the rain, she is both gentle and a force, finding strength to rise again.

Praise for Rain Rising:

""A gorgeous debut: a necessary, cathartic, immersive healing experience.” -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“In this gut-wrenching verse novel by debut author Comrie, thirteen-year-old City Middle School student Rain Washington grapples with the aftermath of a violent racist attack. . . . Comrie sensitively tackles myriad topics, including colorism, fiscal scarcity, and structural racism, as well as their effects on mental health, in this impressive volume."" -Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“This lovingly crafted novel-in-verse is a much-needed reminder that compassion, both for oneself and others, can help make the world right as rain.” -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

“A searing exploration of the intricacies of racism, privilege, and self-worth within the confines of the Black community. Rain's journey is one that includes an acceptance of all the pieces of her identity that make her whole and unique.”-ALA Booklist

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"A satisfying, well-written, and authentic sequel highlighting the ways healing and self-love are ongoing processes."  — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

School Library Journal

03/29/2024

Gr 5 Up—In this sequel to Rain Rising, teenager Rain Washington's journey continues as she navigates change while learning the importance of self-care and self-love. Rain is starting her first year of high school and feels struck by all the differences. Her older brother Xander is away at his first year of college and has been difficult to reach, the school psychologist is hard to open up to, and being a freshman in a school crowded with new people feels daunting. When she attracts the attention of an older boy, Rain experiences the thrill of being seen, but feels unable to talk about him with the people closest to her. With everything she is going through, Rain begins to isolate and her self-disparaging thoughts return; without the supports she had in middle school, coping feels impossible. While Rain may feel alone, her circle of family and friends help her remember who she is. As Rain pulls from her strengths and past experiences, she finds ways to continue her path toward healing and growth, inspiring those around her to do the same. Written in verse, Comrie's writing expresses the tenderness of Rain's interior world, allowing her experiences to resonate with readers and illuminate the power we each hold in making changes in our lives and communities. Comrie weaves in personal and systemic issues facing young people like mental health challenges, body image, divorce, the legal system, and family separation while expertly shining light on the ways that people of all ages can strive toward "progress, not perfection." VERDICT Speaking directly on social issues that affect youth through her characters, Comrie shares different pathways toward healing and empowerment. This title and its predecessor are an important pair of books for any middle grade library.—Sarah Pousty

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2023-07-26
Amid new challenges, Rain Washington, the Black girl readers met in Rain Rising (2022), continues her journey of healing old wounds and loving herself.

Changes abound during Rain’s first year at City High School. Her beloved brother is away at college, she’s in classes without her best friends, and she misses the healing circle she relied on in middle school for processing her feelings. To make matters worse, Rain isn’t clicking with her new counselor, who makes their time together feel more like an interrogation than a safe space for growth. When a sophomore boy showers her with compliments and invites her to meet alone at his home, Rain must decide how to proceed. With everything happening, she abandons some of her coping mechanisms, and the sadness she once faced begins to creep back in. Fortunately, she still has her support system, and they rally around as she remembers who she is, that she has choices, and that she’s more than the sum of her lowest moments. Contemporary issues are part of Rain’s and her friends’ lives, including the arrest and potential deportation of a close friend’s beloved uncle. The rhythm of the verse is engrossing, successfully allowing readers to connect with Rain’s struggles and triumphs. The authentic, skillfully paced dialogue captures the tension and evolution of Rain’s feelings and emotions as she explores her first romance and heartbreak.

A satisfying, well-written, and authentic sequel highlighting the ways healing and self-love are ongoing processes. (Verse novel. 10-14)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940178417935
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/24/2023
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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