Rain Rising by Courtne Comrie, a debut novel in verse following 13-year-old Rain as she struggles with depression when her brother is the victim of a hate crime.
13-year-old girl named Rain, who must find a way through debilitating sadness after her all-star athlete brother Xander is beaten up at a frat party. With the help of a Circle Group at school, Rain begins to help her family heal.---from the publisher
336 pages 978-0063159730 Ages 9-13
Keywords: novel in verse, hate crime, brothers and sisters, sadness, African American and Black stories, Black Girl stories, African American author, diversity, diverse books, dealing with your feelings, dealing with your emotions, mental health, mental illness, connection, healing, family life, 9 year old, 10 year old, 11 year old, 12 year old, 13 year old
Companion book: Rain Remembers
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.---from the publisher
272 pages 978-0063159778 Ages 10-13
