Rain Rising

Starred review from August 15, 2022
In this gut-wrenching verse novel by debut author Comrie, 13-year-old City Middle School student Rain Washington grapples with the aftermath of a violent racist attack. Rain, whose skin is “darker than milk chocolate,” wishes she could be more like her popular best friend, who is both thinner than Rain and has lighter skin and looser curls. Rain also struggles to manage a “sadness that’s so hard to escape from,” which is only sometimes momentarily alleviated by her older brother Xander (“No one can distract me from my sadness like he can”). Academically excellent and athletically skilled, X is Rain’s hero, so when he is viciously attacked by racist white college students while visiting a university campus, Rain’s sadness “rises so strong inside that I can’t stop my leg from shaking.” Further emotional upsets, such as increasingly frequent visits from her previously absent father and X’s newly jaded outlook on life, threaten to drown Rain, but budding friendships and a benevolent community put the family on a path toward healing. Through Rain’s meditative and intimate-feeling voice, Comrie sensitively tackles myriad topics, including colorism, fiscal scarcity, and structural racism, as well as their effects on mental health, in this impressive volume. Ages 8–12. Agent: Rena Rossner, Deborah Harris Agency.

September 15, 2022
Grades 5-8 Being a 13-year-old girl in a family with a superstar athlete brother, a single mom, and a consistently absent dad isn't easy for Rain. She grapples with feelings of inadequacy about her weight, her dark skin, her secondhand clothes, and her dad's ability to leave and forget about her at a moment's notice. When Xander, her beloved older brother, is beaten within an inch of his life at a frat party, Rain finds her fragile world crumbling to pieces. Rain starts to lose all her connection to happiness in her life, forcing her to reconcile with the darkness that lives inside her. Comrie's novel in verse is a searing exploration of the intricacies of racism, privilege, and self-worth within the confines of the Black community. This powerful work doesn't shy away from acknowledging the importance of self-love and healing. Rain's journey is one that includes an acceptance of all the pieces of her identity that make her whole and unique. An important story worth reading.

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January 1, 2023

Gr 3-7-Art truly has the power to save lives. Whether it is through poetry, writing, or step dancing, art channels the power of communication and healing to those who create and share it. In this heartfelt verse debut, Comrie relays the tale of young Black girl Rain, who is experiencing a low point in her life and trying to heal. Rain suffers from debilitating negative self-talk and low self-esteem, which hampers her growth and friendships. When her big brother Xander is brutally physically assaulted after a college visit, the entire family reels in the aftermath. Comrie seamlessly tackles many tough topics, such as self-harm, absentee fathers, mental health, and childhood trauma. This title could be used in social work settings about the importance of honest dialogue and normalizing therapy. Rain Rising is a hopeful text replaying powerful statements such as the need for better access for mental health and working toward "progress not perfect." VERDICT A coming-of-age middle school friendship drama disperses racist violence with justice served. Comrie provides another healthy outlet for youth to normalize exchanges about mental wellness.-Laura Dooley-Taylor

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2022
In the aftermath of a brutal attack, a Black girl and her family discover that healing is progress, not perfection, as they strive to replace their sorrow with things they love. Eighth grader Rain Washington lives with persistent sadness she can't seem to escape. Even the doting attention of her beloved older brother, Xander, who goes by X, only offers brief reprieves from the unhappiness that consumes her. She wishes her name were more creative, believes her skin is too dark, and wants her body to be smaller. Her struggles are compounded by her father's absence and her single mother's work schedule. It seems that the worst is yet to come after X becomes the victim of a brutal attack by White fraternity members while visiting a college with a football teammate from his elite prep school. The attack's aftermath challenges Rain's limited coping mechanisms. New friendships and a healing circle facilitated by the school counselor provide Rain and her family the opportunity to confront generational trauma, develop healthy coping responses, and forge a new path forward with the tools to heal from current and past hurts and depression that may be genetic. The clear writing is authentic, gentle, and smooth, successfully exploring complex emotions and weighty topics, including poverty, self-harm, and racism. The even pacing is perfection. As Rain rises, readers are left rooting for her and others walking her journey. A gorgeous debut: a necessary, cathartic, immersive healing experience. (Verse novel. 10-14)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2023
Plagued by body-image concerns and a lack of self-worth for as long as she can remember, Rain Washington can't seem to escape her sadness. Every day is a struggle to wake up and head to middle school -- alone, since her best friend has moved out of their neighborhood (and in some ways, their friendship). Rain's few moments of happiness are thanks to her older brother, Xander. Cool, kind, intelligent, and loved by all, Xander is everything Rain wishes to be. With an absentee father and overworked mother, Rain feels that Xander is the only one who truly cares about her. When Xander is beaten by white fraternity members while on a college trip with his elite prep school, Rain's entire world is shattered. As she tries to maneuver through the press coverage, hospital visits, and her mother's and brother's changed behaviors, the chaotic aftermath causes Rain to spiral into self-destructive patterns. It takes support from an observant teacher and an afterschool group led by the school counselor to equip her with coping mechanisms to help heal and learn she's not as alone as she'd thought. This first-person novel in verse offers a powerfully intimate look at subjects such as depression, anxiety, and self-harm. In a heartfelt author's note, Comrie encourages readers to come to the same revelation Rain does: "Feelings really do matter. And no matter what, you are so loved."

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