We Deserve Monuments

Avery Anderson's world is turned upside down when she’s forced to leave her life in Washington, D.C. and relocate to the small, southern town of Bardell, Georgia. Her new home is with her terminally ill grandmother, Mama Letty, in an environment steeped in tension and unresolved issues. The frosty relationship between her mother and Mama Letty makes their arrival even more difficult, digging up past dramas that everyone refuses to discuss. Every time Avery attempts to uncover the truths that fractured her family, she faces resistance, leaving her yearning for answers.

Amidst family strife, Avery unexpectedly forges new friendships. Her next-door neighbour, Simone Cole, is captivating and soon becomes a significant part of Avery's life. Avery also bonds with Jade Oliver, a member of the town's most influential family, whose own life is overshadowed by the mystery surrounding her mother's unsolved murder. As their camaraderie grows, Avery and Simone's friendship slowly transforms into a tender romance.

Bardell, however, is a town with deep-rooted issues. There is a sinister undercurrent of racial tension and prejudice, and the bigoted history of the town intertwines with Avery's family in ways she could never have anticipated. As Mama Letty's condition worsens, time for revelations runs out. Avery faces a profound dilemma: Should she continue her quest for the truth, potentially endangering the fragile bonds she has formed in Bardell, or allow some secrets to remain buried?

We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds is a powerful narrative that explores the heartaches and complexities of family, love, and identity against the backdrop of a racially charged southern town. It’s a poignant coming-of-age story that questions what is more important: uncovering painful truths or maintaining peace within the delicate fabric of personal relationships.