Piecing Me Together Summary
The Piecing Me Together quotes below are all either spoken by Sam or refer to Sam. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one: ). Piecing Me Together is a beautiful, beautiful book written by Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott winning author, Renee. Piecing Me Together follows Jade, a young girl living in a poor neighborhood in North Portland. Francis, a private school on the other side of town.
The following version of the book was used to create this study guide: Watson, Renee, Piecing Me Together. Bloomsbury YA, New York, New York, 2017. Kindle AZW file.
Piecing Me Together. Jade is an African American girl from a tough neighborhoodand a hugely ambitious A+ student. Her school pairs her with a rich African American woman to be her mentor—but Jade is nobody's charity case. Some mature content. Piecing Me Together is a novel about life as a young African-American in modern-day America. Set in Portland, Oregon, the main character is Jade Butler who attends St. Francis High School on the other side of town, away from her friends and family in predominantly poor, black Northside. Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine. Jade, a high school junior, lives in a poor, black neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. She is a good student and creates unique works of art by turning everyday objects into collages. While she’s not anxious to leave.
Jade is a junior at St. Francis High School, an exclusive school for wealthy students where the study body is predominately white. She is black and attending on a scholarship, and she is constantly struggling against the stereotypes and prejudices that are prevalent in the world.
As the novel opens, school is starting and Jade is certain she will be granted the opportunity to participate in a program that allows students to travel abroad. She is called in to talk to the school's guidance counselor shortly after school begins and is surprised that they are not talking about that trip. Instead, Jade is asked to join Woman to Woman, a program that pairs a successful adult woman with an at-risk teenage girl. Jade is disappointed and is on the verge of turning down the program when the counselor says she will be given a scholarship if she completes the program. Though Jade hates the idea that she is seen as an “at-risk” student who needs this sort of program, she agrees to participate because of the scholarship.
Jade's mentor, Maxine, does not show up for the first program meeting, but later makes a point to introduce herself to Jade. At the next program meeting, Maxine spends the entire time on the telephone with her former boyfriend, leaving Jade to wander around ar art museum on her own. Over dinner, Jade tells Maxine that she feels she is being short changed. She had envisioned a different kind of relationship forming between them. Maxine realizes that Jade is right, and she makes more of an effort to spend quality time with Jade. She invites Jade to her house for dinner, but Jade soon feels that Maxine had simply been trying to prove to her mother that she was doing something worthwhile. Jade considers dropping out of the program, but her mother says that Jade will not find another way to pay for college, and she insists that Jade “work it out.”
Jade decides she has to begins standing up for herself. She points out that most of the girls in the group want more practical advice, rather than spending an entire evening talking about dating. Group organizers listen, and they begin focusing on how to manage money and spend time with a young black woman who talks about the steps she took to open her own art gallery.
When a young black girl is brutally beaten by police who were called for a noise complaint, Jade and many others are outraged. However, Jade discovers that most of the students at St. Francis have not even heard the story, though it happened just a few miles away. Jade is instrumental in organizing an event to raise money for the girl's medical bills, and she is happily surprised with the number of people who support the event.
As the novel comes to a close, Jade is learning she has the power to stand up for herself and it feels good to do so. She also learns she has the ability to overcome the stereotypes against blacks and that she has to make a commitment to see anything through to the conclusion, including friendships.
Summary
Chapter 63 begins with the word “soledad,” which means “loneliness.” Jade knows she and Sam are not friends because Sam does not choose her for a partner in Spanish, does not ride the bus anymore, and does not look to Jade when something is funny.
Piecing Me Together Chapter 26 Summary
Piecing Me Together Chapter 12 Summary
Chapter 64 begins with “oportunidad,” which means “opportunity.” Woman to Woman hosts a second financial workshop. Later, Sabrina (one of the organizers) asks if Jade will contribute a piece of art for the program's annual fundraiser. Jade agrees but Mrs. Butler is skeptical, asking what Jade will get for her effort. Jade points out that she will help the program thrive. Mrs. Butler says she agrees, but wants to be sure Jade wants to do this. Mrs. Butler then asks Maxine to ensure that Jade is not treated like a zoo animal at this event. Maxine promises and Mrs. Butler...