And Then There Was Us

February 15, 2024
A teenager, whose family has roots in Trinidad and Jamaica, juggles anxiety and grief after the sudden death of her mother. It's been over four years since 18-year-old Coi last heard from her estranged mother, Crissy, who breaks the silence between them with an unexpected call. It's a terse exchange, filled with hostility, and results in Coi's having a panic attack. Her father offers constant support, yet even his cocoon of protection can't buffer her from the dramatic shifts and ongoing fallout between his former partner and only daughter. Coi voices a glaring truth about her expectations of the flawed mother who rejected her: "She didn't have to be perfect." Aunty, Crissy's younger sister, "was always present," however, recognizing the early signs of turmoil between Coi's parents. After Crissy gets in a fatal car accident, Coi grapples with repairing the rifts and ruptures within her family; initially, she's barely on speaking terms with her maternal grandmother. The first-person perspective immerses readers in Coi's feelings, including her understandably sharp anger and disappointment, as the book explores themes of reconciliation and overcoming familial conflicts. Aunty supports Coi in becoming her own woman by sharing feminist texts; the book contains an implicit critique of the "strong Black woman" trope and also unpacks the fallout when a woman isn't "a good mother." Carter's language isn't dazzling, but his prose is clean, and he weaves in pop-culture references, adding a layer of relatability for young readers. An emotional story of family and growth. (Fiction. 13-18)

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April 15, 2024
Grades 9-12 When Coi was 14, her father won complete custody of her and she moved out of her mother's house. For Coi, it was a relief to escape her mother's abuse, but she also had to cut off all contact, including with her half sister, Kayla, and stepfather, Dave. Five years later, her mother gets in a car accident and, after a while in a coma, she dies. Coi's reunion with her estranged family is awkward and strained, especially when she refuses to go to her mother's funeral. All Coi can remember is her mother's anger and abuse, and her rigid grandmother Lady doesn't help, since she tears Coi down at any opportunity. But Coi begins to have lucid dreams featuring her mother, leading her to find out more about her, though she can't forget the abuse. Coi displays significant growth over the course of the novel as she navigates the path between ""me"" and ""us."" The novel is well paced and populated with strong and sympathetic characters who help Coi along the way.

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June 7, 2024

Gr 10 Up-Now a freshman in college, Coi has steered clear of her mother for the past four years. Cast out of her home, warned that she was no longer welcome, she has been living with her devoted father. His love and patience have allowed her to flourish despite her past trauma, until she is called to her mother's bedside after a tragic car accident. Largely unaware of the abuse she suffered, her mother's family cannot understand why she cut ties so completely. Thrust between their resentment and her own conflicted feelings, Coi must find a way to cope with a past she has spent the last four years trying to suppress. She is haunted by painful memories of her mother's anger, and can't comprehend why she was the target. Recent lucid dreams leave her wondering if she can still feel love for the woman who regularly beat her. Healing must be her priority, and reconnecting with the sister she was forced to abandon when she left her mother's house could hold the key. Unlike many living in a violent household, Coi has the benefit of a loving, supportive father. The book is set in Toronto, and Coi has African-Jamaican roots. VERDICT A well-written, thoughtful, and sympathetic deep dive into understanding and surviving an abusive parent.-Cary Frostick

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