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A poignant and lyrical young adult novel-in-verse about a Black teen coming of age in an anxiety-inducing world, from the author of For Black Girls Like Me and In the Key of Us. I'm safe here. That's how Sadie feels, on a perfect summer day, wrapped in her girlfriend's arms. School is out, and even though she's been struggling to manage her chronic anxiety, Sadie is hopeful better times are ahead. Or at least, she thought she was safe. When her girlfriend reveals some unexpected news and the two witness a violent incident of police brutality unfold before them, Sadie's whole world is upended in an instant. I'm not safe anywhere. That's how Sadie feels every day after--vulnerable, uprooted. She retreats inside as the weeks slip by and relies on her phone to stay connected to the outside world. When Sadie's therapist gives her a diagnosis for her debilitating panic--agoraphobia--she starts on a path of acceptance and healing. Meanwhile, Sadie's best friend, Evan, updates her on the protests taking place in their city. Sadie wants to be a part of it, to use her voice and affect change. But how do you show up for your community when you can't even leave your house? I can build a safe place inside myself. That's what Sadie learns over the course of one life-changing summer, with some help from her family, her best friend, an online platform for activists, and a magnetic crush she develops for the new boy next door. From Stonewall Honor-winning author Mariama J. Lockington comes Forever is Now, a powerful young adult novel-in-verse about mental health, love, family, Black joy, and finding your voice and power in an unforgiving world.
Publication Year: 2023
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0~~I won a copy of my ARC via FierceReads giveaway on Instagram. Thank you so much!~~
God, this year is for the novels-in-verse, because this is the third one I've read that has been absolutely stellar. I fell in love with Lockington's writing when I read In the Key of Us last year, but this one certified her as one of my favorites. Sadie is so complex it's beautiful: Fiercely brave but riddled anxiety and fear, very vulnerable when it comes to her mental health and overwhelming feelings but her passion for social justice and Black folks burns so blindingly bright, and she shares a wide variety of relationships with the people around her that are simultaneously supportive, loving, and heart-breaking all at once. All is done masterfully in the verse format, which I have fallen in love with and am so glad Lockington chose to tell the story this way. I love how, despite how much heavy topics are packed into the story, like police brutality, biphobia, mental health struggles (panic attacks, depression, etc.), the pain of being Black in America, and so much more, Sadie ultimately chooses to focus on the joy life could bring. It was all just so good and spending my whole afternoon reading this was so worth it.
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