From New York Times-bestselling and multi-award-winning author Renée Watson comes the start of a character-driven, young middle grade series starring a black girl and her relatable and lovable family

'Without ever shying away from difficult topics such as racism and financial hardship, this is a positive, optimistic story. For readers who are going through tough or troubling times, this book will be a welcome dose of happiness' BookTrust Great Books Guide 2021

Ryan Hart and her family live in Portland, Oregon, and her dad lost his job a while ago. He finally got a new one, but it pays less, and he’ll have to work nights. And so they’re selling the second car and moving to an (old) new house.

The Harts are an everyfamily – a family with siblings who bicker, parents who don’t always get it right, but a family that loves. A family working hard to make it in tough economic times, a family with traditions and culture, a family that tries new things. This is a black family growing up in middle class America.

And Ryan is a girl who has much on her mind – school, family, friends, self-image – but who knows how to make sunshine out of setbacks.

Packed with humour and heart alongside meaningful and thoughtful moments, Ryan Hart is the character everyone will want to be best friends with.

Without ever shying away from difficult topics such as racism and financial hardship, this is a positive, optimistic story. For readers who are going through tough or troubling times, this book will be a welcome dose of happiness * BookTrust Great Books Guide 2021 *
Without ever shying away from difficult topics such as racism and financial hardship, this is a positive, optimistic story. [...] For readers who are going through tough or troubling times, this book will be a welcome dose of happiness * BookTrust *
An important and deeply moving novel * John Green, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, on PIECING ME TOGETHER *
Watson, with rhythm and style, somehow gets at … the life-changing power of voice and opportunity, all wrapped up in Jade * Jason Reynolds, author of LONG WAY DOWN, on PIECING ME TOGETHER *
Timely and timeless * Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award winning author of BROWN GIRL DREAMING, on PIECING ME TOGETHER *
An adorable Middle Grade contemporary fiction novel about a young girl navigating her way through school, friendships and moving house. It was filled with fun adventures, fun surprises and lots of cute moments between Ryan Hart and her family and friends. She is a lovely character, and I love her confidence (even when it falters), her wit and her sense of adventure * NetGalley Reviewer *
What I loved about this book is that it is about making the best of things... about being kind, and about how it's the way that you act towards people that makes you beautiful, and it's about how you can stay friends with people even when you no longer see them every day * Esmeralda (8) for Scoop Magazine *
This narrative celebrates embracing your heritage, background and loving yourself. It’s also packed with curious mystery and jokes * Sadé Magazine *

RENÉE WATSON is the Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Award-winning author of the novels Some Places More Than Others, Watch Us Rise, co-written with Ellen Hagan, Piecing Me Together, This Side of Home, What Momma Left Me, Betty Before X, co-written with Ilyasah Shabazz, and two picture books: Harlem's Little Blackbird and A Place Where Hurricanes Happen. Renée is the founder of I, Too, Arts Collective, a nonprofit committed to nurturing underrepresented voices in the creative arts. She lives in New York City.
www.reneewatson.net; @harlemportland (Instagram); @reneewauthor (Twitter)