Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

I Rise

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

A heartbreaking and powerful novel about racism and social justice as fourteen-year-old Ayo has to decide whether to take on her mother's activist role when her mom is shot by police. As she tries to find answers, Ayo looks to the wisdom of her ancestors and her Harlem community for guidance.

Ayo's mother founded the biggest civil rights movement to hit New York City in decades. It's called 'See Us' and it tackles police brutality and racial profiling in Harlem. Ayo has spent her entire life being an activist and now, she wants out. She wants to get her first real kiss, have a boyfriend, and just be a normal teen.

When her mom is put into a coma after a riot breaks out between protesters and police, protestors want Ayo to become the face of See Us and fight for justice for her mother who can no longer fight for herself. While she deals with her grief and anger, Ayo must also discover if she has the strength to take over where her mother left off.

This impactful and unforgettable novel takes on the important issues of inequality, systemic racism, police violence, and social justice.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from October 24, 2022
      As the daughter of Harlem’s most influential activist, 14-year-old Ayomide Bosia has always had a keen awareness of the often lethal societal injustices that affect the everyday lives of Black community members. Ayo’s mother, Rosalie, is the founder of See Us, a civil rights activist group that challenges police brutality and institutional racism, and provides support to Harlem residents. While Ayo has an unfaltering belief in Rosalie’s mission, and sees herself as a budding activist, she struggles to balance her desire to be a “normal” teenager with her mother’s expectations that she eventually take over See Us. But when Rosalie is shot during a televised protest and subsequently falls into a coma, Ayo—who assumes leadership of See Us—is overwhelmed by her community’s needs. Arnold (The Year I Flew Away) depicts even the narrative’s most painful moments with compassionate prose, exploring Ayo’s struggles to navigate her newfound responsibilities, her frustration with an unjust system, and her mourning of her quickly vanishing childhood with nuance and heart. A lively, complex cast and their unignorable plea for safety, respect, and equality rounds out this potent novel. Ages 12–up.

    • School Library Journal

      January 1, 2023

      Gr 7 Up-At 14, Ayo "just want[s] to be normal"-hang out with friends, maybe even have a boyfriend. But Ayo's mother, Rosalie, is the revered founder of See Us, a Harlem-based civil rights group. See Us was supposed to be Ayo's inheritance...but never this soon. As Rosalie lies in a coma after being shot by police, Ayo faces the biggest challenges of her young life. Cox hasn't yet reached a dozen audio credits, but her extensive acting training and experiences are on full display as she imbues Ayo with an impressive emotive range; ironically, the accomplished performance make the few stumbles (Thighland for Thailand, "progress" pronounced as a noun when used as a verb) seem more obvious. VERDICT Cox deftly intensifies Arnold's insightful mother/daughter narrative gloriously intertwined with powerful social justice awareness and inspiration.

      Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

Languages

  • English

Loading