What do you think?
Rate this book
What Momma Left Me
Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Award winner Renée Watson's heart-tugging debut celebrates one girl's gift for finding joy in dark places.
Serenity knows she is good at keeping secrets, and she's got a whole lifetime's worth of them. Her mother is dead, her father is gone, and starting life over at her grandparents' house is strange. Luckily, certain things seem to hold a new friend, a new church, a new school. But when her brother starts making poor choices, and her grandparents believe in a faith that Serenity isn't sure she understands, it is the power of love that will keep her sure of just who she is.
Serenity knows she is good at keeping secrets, and she's got a whole lifetime's worth of them. Her mother is dead, her father is gone, and starting life over at her grandparents' house is strange. Luckily, certain things seem to hold a new friend, a new church, a new school. But when her brother starts making poor choices, and her grandparents believe in a faith that Serenity isn't sure she understands, it is the power of love that will keep her sure of just who she is.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2010
48 people are currently reading
3254 people want to read
About the author
Renée Watson
36 books1,652 followersRenée Watson is the author of the children’s picture book, A Place Where Hurricanes Happen (Random House, June 2010), which was featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. Her middle grade novel, What Momma Left Me debuted as the New Voice for 2010 in middle grade fiction by The Independent Children's Booksellers Association.
Renée’s one woman show, Roses are Red, Women are Blue, debuted at New York City's Lincoln Center at a showcase for emerging artists. Her poetry and articles have been published in Rethinking Schools, Theatre of the Mind and With Hearts Ablaze.
When Renée is not writing and performing, she is teaching. Renée has worked in public schools and community organizations as an artist in residence for several years, teaching poetry, fiction, and theater in Oregon, Louisiana, and New York City. She also facilitates professional development workshops for teachers and artists.
One of Renée’s passions is using the arts to help youth cope with trauma. She has facilitated poetry and theatre workshops with young girls coping with sexual and physical abuse, children who have witnessed violence, children coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and children who relocated to New York City after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Renée graduated from The New School, where she studied Creative Writing and earned a certificate in Drama Therapy.
Renée currently lives in New York City.
Renée’s one woman show, Roses are Red, Women are Blue, debuted at New York City's Lincoln Center at a showcase for emerging artists. Her poetry and articles have been published in Rethinking Schools, Theatre of the Mind and With Hearts Ablaze.
When Renée is not writing and performing, she is teaching. Renée has worked in public schools and community organizations as an artist in residence for several years, teaching poetry, fiction, and theater in Oregon, Louisiana, and New York City. She also facilitates professional development workshops for teachers and artists.
One of Renée’s passions is using the arts to help youth cope with trauma. She has facilitated poetry and theatre workshops with young girls coping with sexual and physical abuse, children who have witnessed violence, children coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and children who relocated to New York City after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Renée graduated from The New School, where she studied Creative Writing and earned a certificate in Drama Therapy.
Renée currently lives in New York City.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
January 7, 2021
"It is unfair that the dead have smiles on their faces and the living are left crying."
What Momma Left Me was my first novel by Renée Watson but it sure won't be my last. This book reminds me of On the Come Up and The Hate U Give. It tells the story of 13 year old Serenity and her brother Danny. After their mother's death they move in with their grandparents. They both miss their mother terribly. Serenity feels like she will never be able to cook or bake or even set foot in a kitchen again - something she loved doing with her mother. Danny has anger issues and Serenity fears he will go down the wrong path and end up selling drugs like her father. This is a novel about making your own way in life and speaking your truth even when it's painful.
The writing is powerful, poetic and wise. Maybe even a little too wise for a thirteen year old kid. Overall it was a beautiful book. Its central themes were family, friendship and faith but the novel also touched upon domestic and sexual abuse, poverty and gun violence. I'm seriously impressed that the author wrote a considerably short novel (220 pages) that sensibly covers various important topics, manages to keep the sadness and heaviness at bay, and after all that still feels real and authentic. As I said, I will make sure to read Renée Watson other books because this is a must-read.
Find more of my books on Instagram
What Momma Left Me was my first novel by Renée Watson but it sure won't be my last. This book reminds me of On the Come Up and The Hate U Give. It tells the story of 13 year old Serenity and her brother Danny. After their mother's death they move in with their grandparents. They both miss their mother terribly. Serenity feels like she will never be able to cook or bake or even set foot in a kitchen again - something she loved doing with her mother. Danny has anger issues and Serenity fears he will go down the wrong path and end up selling drugs like her father. This is a novel about making your own way in life and speaking your truth even when it's painful.
The writing is powerful, poetic and wise. Maybe even a little too wise for a thirteen year old kid. Overall it was a beautiful book. Its central themes were family, friendship and faith but the novel also touched upon domestic and sexual abuse, poverty and gun violence. I'm seriously impressed that the author wrote a considerably short novel (220 pages) that sensibly covers various important topics, manages to keep the sadness and heaviness at bay, and after all that still feels real and authentic. As I said, I will make sure to read Renée Watson other books because this is a must-read.
Find more of my books on Instagram
March 6, 2024
First book I was able to concentrate properly on.. my brain 🧠 decided to calm with this one somehow 👍🏼. Than the gates opened, and my desire to read appeared with a cake 🎂 🥮.
(Also got through an audiobook and a half as well).
I liked the overall story and characters, the sense of family doing the best they can after a tragedy and how they were coping.
I wanted to try her Grandma's food 😋.
I didn't know religion was a big part of the plot from the summary (went in blind,)... mostly it wasn't preachy but my brain squirmed at some of the things they said.
Certain comments which... would have had me and my no filters speaking up.
I'm more spiritual than religious and my 🧠 wiring doesn't see the sense in certain statements. I'm not saying anything bad against anyone. Just saying my opinion 🤷.
Me and organized religion don't really get along but I respect that it means alot to others.
Pardon the rambling, this was a well crafted story but not completely my thing.
Side note: cover art 🎨 beautiful 😍
(Also got through an audiobook and a half as well).
I liked the overall story and characters, the sense of family doing the best they can after a tragedy and how they were coping.
I wanted to try her Grandma's food 😋.
I didn't know religion was a big part of the plot from the summary (went in blind,)... mostly it wasn't preachy but my brain squirmed at some of the things they said.
Certain comments which... would have had me and my no filters speaking up.
I'm more spiritual than religious and my 🧠 wiring doesn't see the sense in certain statements. I'm not saying anything bad against anyone. Just saying my opinion 🤷.
Me and organized religion don't really get along but I respect that it means alot to others.
Pardon the rambling, this was a well crafted story but not completely my thing.
Side note: cover art 🎨 beautiful 😍
September 7, 2011
REVIEW
Ana’s Take:
I was not prepared for this book. The cover of What Momma Left Me is adorable and as such it is perhaps too misleading as the contents of this story do not match the lightness of the cover at all. This is a novel that features very heavy topics such as abuse, murder, suicide and paedophilia all bundled up in a coming of age story that manages to uplifting and hopeful despite all this tragedy. What Momma Left Me is a wonderful book.
There are certain stories that just pack a powerful punch. What Momma Left Me is unrelenting on that aspect as it features a lot within its meager number of pages. It starts in the aftermath of a family tragedy, with 13 year old Serenity Evans trying to cope with the violent death of her mother and the absence of her abusive father. Serenity and her younger brother have moved in with their maternal grandparents and the entire family is trying to pick up the pieces of their lives.
Serenity is the narrator and from the start she is very clear that she is keeping secrets from us – although they are revealed slowly throughout the reading.
This secretive element is one of the great aspects of the novel, and the reader can tell that really terrible things have happened in this girl’s life – and the worst thing is, they keep coming. What makes this story particularly interesting to me is that perhaps the real tragedy is not what happens TO her but how she reacts to it. It is heartbreaking to hear Serenity musing about how much she fears she is going to grow up to be like her mother, stuck in an abusive marriage or how she fears her brother is turning as violent as their father. But Serenity is surrounded by other women who are great role models and realises that she can choose her own way and this is where the “coming of age” comes into play as Serenity starts to grow up and to make her own decisions with the help of her family, friends, her religion and poetry writing/reading.
On the down side, I felt that the book tried to address far too many issues as the things kept coming at Serenity: on top of living under the shadow of what happened to her immediate family, Serenity also comes across drug abuse, poverty, paedophilia, suicide and although I am sure all of these things unfortunately do happen to children, I can’t help but to think that in such a short, contained story they weren’t explored with the depth they deserve. Furthermore, I struggled with part of the writing and Serenity’s voice: with regards to the first, at times the book had a an old-fashioned style that didn’t sound Contemporary enough and Serenity sounded too young and naïve despite being 13. At times, I felt I was reading a MG book and not a Young Adult one.
I was emotionally exhausted at the end of this book, feeling like I ran a whole marathon but ultimately, What Momma Left Me was a very rewarding read.
Thea’s Take:
When I learned that What Momma Left Me was the first finalist in the Nerds Heart YA tournament, I was a little…well, shocked. Not only was this a book I had never heard of, but the cover is incredibly misleading. To me, this looks like a picture book about a birthday or something, and I was flabbergasted to see that this was the book that had toppled Bleeding Violet to move on to the final bracket. When I read the synopsis for the book, I was instantly wary – because, dear readers, I am not a huge fan of contemporary YA, nor am I a fan of reading morose books in which Bad Things happen to young people simply to have them happen (often this feels exploitative and emotionally sadistic, and I am not a fan).
BUT. Then I started reading What Momma Left Me, and to my surprise, I couldn’t stop reading. Through deceptively simple prose and vocabulary, Renee Watson entices people into the shattered world of thirteen year old Serenity. After her mother dies – the exact cause of death is a mystery to readers initially, but we know that it is something unnatural and has caused a huge wave of news – Serenity and her younger brother Danny are taken in by their grandparents, and try to go on with their lives.
Like Ana says, there is a lot of trauma that never seems to end for Serenity, Danny and their family. Their mother is dead, their father is gone, and then other things happen, too – more death, sorrow, and suffering. Although there is so much that happens to this young girl, I don’t think it was exploitative, emotionally or otherwise. Very bad things that happen to people, and given where Serenity was growing up, surrounded by drugs, violence, poverty, it’s not a stretch of the imagination when tragedy strikes again, and again. Because the subject matter is so heavy, I found that Ms. Watson did a beautiful job of balancing tragedy with hope; the lighthearted moments of everyday happiness with pain. Serenity’s narration is key to achieving this balance, and I loved the brutal simplicity of her writing. Though the vocabulary and sentence structure may be very young – perhaps it even seems too young for a thirteen year old – Serenity has a way those words that resonates in the deepest wells of human emotion. Every chapter in the book begins with a poem or assignment from Serenity’s journal, and each entry is unexpectedly poignant.
Of course, on the plotting front, there is basically no storyline – this is most assuredly a character piece. This lack of plotting, however, does not mean the book is boring or without direction; rather, it chronicles the year following Serenity’s mother’s death, as she transitions from girl to young woman, and learns how to deal with grief and pain. A large part of this is through her writing and burgeoning relationships. I loved the relationship between Serenity and her best friend Maria, just as I loved the tangled feelings that Serenity starts to feel for Jay, a boy in her school. As Ana mentions above, though, there is also this fear that Serenity has that she will end up like her mother – attracted to the wrong sort of man, trapped in an abusive relationship – just as her brother might end up like her father. There’s also a theme of secrecy that runs throughout the novel, as Serenity learns that keeping secrets is important, but almost more important is knowing when to speak and take a stand.
There are other important threads, too, like Serenity and her relationship with faith (her grandfather is a preacher, so much of this book and many of her views and opinions are shaped by her faith), and her lost love for cooking (which disappeared when her mother died). There is plenty of hurt in this book, but there’s also healing and growth. And, at the end of the day, it’s an uplifting story with hope for the future and for Serenity. While I, like Ana, felt exhausted by the end of the novel, I think it’s an important book that should be read and deserves a much broader audience.
Ana’s Take:
I was not prepared for this book. The cover of What Momma Left Me is adorable and as such it is perhaps too misleading as the contents of this story do not match the lightness of the cover at all. This is a novel that features very heavy topics such as abuse, murder, suicide and paedophilia all bundled up in a coming of age story that manages to uplifting and hopeful despite all this tragedy. What Momma Left Me is a wonderful book.
There are certain stories that just pack a powerful punch. What Momma Left Me is unrelenting on that aspect as it features a lot within its meager number of pages. It starts in the aftermath of a family tragedy, with 13 year old Serenity Evans trying to cope with the violent death of her mother and the absence of her abusive father. Serenity and her younger brother have moved in with their maternal grandparents and the entire family is trying to pick up the pieces of their lives.
Serenity is the narrator and from the start she is very clear that she is keeping secrets from us – although they are revealed slowly throughout the reading.
This secretive element is one of the great aspects of the novel, and the reader can tell that really terrible things have happened in this girl’s life – and the worst thing is, they keep coming. What makes this story particularly interesting to me is that perhaps the real tragedy is not what happens TO her but how she reacts to it. It is heartbreaking to hear Serenity musing about how much she fears she is going to grow up to be like her mother, stuck in an abusive marriage or how she fears her brother is turning as violent as their father. But Serenity is surrounded by other women who are great role models and realises that she can choose her own way and this is where the “coming of age” comes into play as Serenity starts to grow up and to make her own decisions with the help of her family, friends, her religion and poetry writing/reading.
On the down side, I felt that the book tried to address far too many issues as the things kept coming at Serenity: on top of living under the shadow of what happened to her immediate family, Serenity also comes across drug abuse, poverty, paedophilia, suicide and although I am sure all of these things unfortunately do happen to children, I can’t help but to think that in such a short, contained story they weren’t explored with the depth they deserve. Furthermore, I struggled with part of the writing and Serenity’s voice: with regards to the first, at times the book had a an old-fashioned style that didn’t sound Contemporary enough and Serenity sounded too young and naïve despite being 13. At times, I felt I was reading a MG book and not a Young Adult one.
I was emotionally exhausted at the end of this book, feeling like I ran a whole marathon but ultimately, What Momma Left Me was a very rewarding read.
Thea’s Take:
When I learned that What Momma Left Me was the first finalist in the Nerds Heart YA tournament, I was a little…well, shocked. Not only was this a book I had never heard of, but the cover is incredibly misleading. To me, this looks like a picture book about a birthday or something, and I was flabbergasted to see that this was the book that had toppled Bleeding Violet to move on to the final bracket. When I read the synopsis for the book, I was instantly wary – because, dear readers, I am not a huge fan of contemporary YA, nor am I a fan of reading morose books in which Bad Things happen to young people simply to have them happen (often this feels exploitative and emotionally sadistic, and I am not a fan).
BUT. Then I started reading What Momma Left Me, and to my surprise, I couldn’t stop reading. Through deceptively simple prose and vocabulary, Renee Watson entices people into the shattered world of thirteen year old Serenity. After her mother dies – the exact cause of death is a mystery to readers initially, but we know that it is something unnatural and has caused a huge wave of news – Serenity and her younger brother Danny are taken in by their grandparents, and try to go on with their lives.
Like Ana says, there is a lot of trauma that never seems to end for Serenity, Danny and their family. Their mother is dead, their father is gone, and then other things happen, too – more death, sorrow, and suffering. Although there is so much that happens to this young girl, I don’t think it was exploitative, emotionally or otherwise. Very bad things that happen to people, and given where Serenity was growing up, surrounded by drugs, violence, poverty, it’s not a stretch of the imagination when tragedy strikes again, and again. Because the subject matter is so heavy, I found that Ms. Watson did a beautiful job of balancing tragedy with hope; the lighthearted moments of everyday happiness with pain. Serenity’s narration is key to achieving this balance, and I loved the brutal simplicity of her writing. Though the vocabulary and sentence structure may be very young – perhaps it even seems too young for a thirteen year old – Serenity has a way those words that resonates in the deepest wells of human emotion. Every chapter in the book begins with a poem or assignment from Serenity’s journal, and each entry is unexpectedly poignant.
Of course, on the plotting front, there is basically no storyline – this is most assuredly a character piece. This lack of plotting, however, does not mean the book is boring or without direction; rather, it chronicles the year following Serenity’s mother’s death, as she transitions from girl to young woman, and learns how to deal with grief and pain. A large part of this is through her writing and burgeoning relationships. I loved the relationship between Serenity and her best friend Maria, just as I loved the tangled feelings that Serenity starts to feel for Jay, a boy in her school. As Ana mentions above, though, there is also this fear that Serenity has that she will end up like her mother – attracted to the wrong sort of man, trapped in an abusive relationship – just as her brother might end up like her father. There’s also a theme of secrecy that runs throughout the novel, as Serenity learns that keeping secrets is important, but almost more important is knowing when to speak and take a stand.
There are other important threads, too, like Serenity and her relationship with faith (her grandfather is a preacher, so much of this book and many of her views and opinions are shaped by her faith), and her lost love for cooking (which disappeared when her mother died). There is plenty of hurt in this book, but there’s also healing and growth. And, at the end of the day, it’s an uplifting story with hope for the future and for Serenity. While I, like Ana, felt exhausted by the end of the novel, I think it’s an important book that should be read and deserves a much broader audience.
November 4, 2025
MUST READ BOOKS in every genre:
Thriller Say Goodbye
Memoir The Yellow House
SciFi Murder by Memory
Romance Time Loops & Meet Cutes
This is a coming of age and mourning story. A young woman must decide to be strong and brave and honest in the face of her mother's death, her father's betrayal, her brother's decisions and living with grandparents the last year before high school.
So real sad, serious things happen to her and her friends.
Thriller Say Goodbye
Memoir The Yellow House
SciFi Murder by Memory
Romance Time Loops & Meet Cutes
This is a coming of age and mourning story. A young woman must decide to be strong and brave and honest in the face of her mother's death, her father's betrayal, her brother's decisions and living with grandparents the last year before high school.
So real sad, serious things happen to her and her friends.
March 20, 2018
At the outset, I’d like to say that I’ve always been generous with my ratings. This year, I decided to pull the reigns on the stars but as you can see, not being able to! Books take me to other places even when I’m sitting at home. I roam the whole world. I go to places I’ve never been, from Japan to Africa. They take me on adventures, through war and peace, into peoples homes. I get to meet so many different kinds of characters. Books are magical things that make me feel happy, sad, hopeful, angry, thoughtful. They evoke all sorts of emotions in me. And best of all, they tell me stories.
What My Momma Left Me is a story about many things. Serenity is a teenager whose mother has just died and her father is absconding. She and her brother go to live with their grandparents, join a new school, make new friends, start grief therapy, and basically start a new life. The story tells us of the sorrow of losing ones parents at a young age. It tells us how children cope with teen hood and peer pressure. It also shows how good friendships are necessary when someone is healing emotionally. Friendship is a pillar of strength. Another point that stood out for me, in this book, is how important it is to listen to children. Parents or guardians need to have a respectful yet frank relationship with their children where children can share anything with them. It is very easy for children to go astray, to choose the wrong path and eventually never come back. They must be steered towards the good and the right, gently, yet firmly. There must be rules, disciple and punishment at home, but also affection and rewards.
I especially liked the references to food! It’s fun for people who like to cook and bake. I liked how the community engages in church activities for both the young and the old. I liked the serene flow with which the author brought in physical abuse, sexual abuse, drugs, theft, death of a loved one, and so much more in one story. It’s all real life. There’s no melodrama. It’s a story about many people who go through something or the other in their lives which causes pain, but also lets them start all over again, building relationships and faith as they go.
What My Momma Left Me is a story about many things. Serenity is a teenager whose mother has just died and her father is absconding. She and her brother go to live with their grandparents, join a new school, make new friends, start grief therapy, and basically start a new life. The story tells us of the sorrow of losing ones parents at a young age. It tells us how children cope with teen hood and peer pressure. It also shows how good friendships are necessary when someone is healing emotionally. Friendship is a pillar of strength. Another point that stood out for me, in this book, is how important it is to listen to children. Parents or guardians need to have a respectful yet frank relationship with their children where children can share anything with them. It is very easy for children to go astray, to choose the wrong path and eventually never come back. They must be steered towards the good and the right, gently, yet firmly. There must be rules, disciple and punishment at home, but also affection and rewards.
I especially liked the references to food! It’s fun for people who like to cook and bake. I liked how the community engages in church activities for both the young and the old. I liked the serene flow with which the author brought in physical abuse, sexual abuse, drugs, theft, death of a loved one, and so much more in one story. It’s all real life. There’s no melodrama. It’s a story about many people who go through something or the other in their lives which causes pain, but also lets them start all over again, building relationships and faith as they go.
January 23, 2019
Рене Уотсън определено затвърждава мястото си сред любимите ми автори!
Книгите й са толкова истински и неподправени, че е трудно да не ги прочетете на един дъх и заобичате.
Тази специфично разказва за домашното ��асилие, смъртта на родители, болката и започването напълно наново. Една много силна история за едно още по-силно чернокожо момиче, за което животът е низ от трудности.
Криси
Книгите й са толкова истински и неподправени, че е трудно да не ги прочетете на един дъх и заобичате.
Тази специфично разказва за домашното ��асилие, смъртта на родители, болката и започването напълно наново. Една много силна история за едно още по-силно чернокожо момиче, за което животът е низ от трудности.
Криси
June 13, 2025
"If real children live through this, it's not too dark for me to read about," I repeated to myself multiple times throughout this book, but I do wish I'd read more reviews/trigger warnings to know what to expect.
I was looking for more Ryan Hart books at the library and instead found this novel. It had the strong faith, friendships and family relationships, and coming-of-age themes I've grown to expect from this author, but the backdrop was one of tragedy and violence. I began to wonder along with the MC what the point of the story going this way was, but I think the end wrapped it up well with a message of hope and faith.
I loved the poetry throughout and the themed chapter headings too.
CW: domestic abuse, child abuse, death of parents, death of a friend, stealing, smoking, kissing.
I was looking for more Ryan Hart books at the library and instead found this novel. It had the strong faith, friendships and family relationships, and coming-of-age themes I've grown to expect from this author, but the backdrop was one of tragedy and violence. I began to wonder along with the MC what the point of the story going this way was, but I think the end wrapped it up well with a message of hope and faith.
I loved the poetry throughout and the themed chapter headings too.
CW: domestic abuse, child abuse, death of parents, death of a friend, stealing, smoking, kissing.
March 12, 2021
What Momma Left Me is a hard-to-put-down debut upper middle-grade novel packed with several crucial themes, but never bogged down by them. Watson gently handles her characters and the sensitive themes she covers, creating a story that is impossible to forget. From drug use/sale to domestic violence, parental death and sexual abuse, Watson doesn’t hold back. This book highlights the impact of family trauma, and yet, how important it is to have family, and friends like family when we’re healing. A strong love of poetry and cooking, as well as an unwavering female friendship also make this book especially heartwarming.
Read my full review on my blog.
Read my full review on my blog.
April 23, 2018
A story about a middle school girl whose mother has died. Father disappears meanwhile so she and her brother move in with her maternal grandparents. As the story unfolds we learn more about her mom's death, and what has happened to her father.
The story takes place in N Portland, and as that is my hometown I loved the local references. Watson's writing weaves us through the realistic life of a middle school student in that setting. Sad in places, but realistic.
The target audience is probably middle school students. Watson has a wonderful way with adding details into her book that students can relate to. Well done!
The story takes place in N Portland, and as that is my hometown I loved the local references. Watson's writing weaves us through the realistic life of a middle school student in that setting. Sad in places, but realistic.
The target audience is probably middle school students. Watson has a wonderful way with adding details into her book that students can relate to. Well done!
April 1, 2019
2.5/5 ⭐ My Full Review right >> HERE.
February 15, 2019
T/W: death, domestic violence, mentions of drugs, suicide mentions, sexual assault mentions
this ones hard to rate since i am definitely not the target audience. full review to come
this ones hard to rate since i am definitely not the target audience. full review to come
October 29, 2018
Read this middle grade novel for a review, and teared up more than once. It's a tearjerker, but a great one, with a hopeful ending at least. Would recommend especially for young black girls trying to figure out who they are, or how to cope with loss. *goes to get tissues*
December 16, 2019
What Momma Left Me is told through the eyes of Serenity. Although she is only an 8th grader, Serenity has had to hold many secrets. She is challenged with keeping these secrets after the death of her mother and disappearance of her father. Now she and her younger brother have to live with their maternal grandparents,become accustomed to going to a new school while also learning how to grieve and remember their mother. The first couple months are further complicated as Serenity learns her father committed suicide, a friend is lost to gun violence, and Sernity's best friend, Maria, tells Serenity a secret Maria is afraid to share with her mother. During the year following her mother's death, Serenity tasks herself with finding out what her mother left her, what it means to live in peace, learns how to keep her mother's memory alive, how to stay true to her own values, and the power of the Lord's prayer.
This is the fourth book I have read by this author and I love how well she brings the character's to life without overlapping/making it feel as if you are reading an extension of a character from a previous book. While I was not expecting some plot twist/reveals (such as Serenity and her brother being present when their father killed their mother, father's suicide, or the killing of their friend), I appreciated the honesty and how real the story felt. I recommend this book for mature teens and adults.
This is the fourth book I have read by this author and I love how well she brings the character's to life without overlapping/making it feel as if you are reading an extension of a character from a previous book. While I was not expecting some plot twist/reveals (such as Serenity and her brother being present when their father killed their mother, father's suicide, or the killing of their friend), I appreciated the honesty and how real the story felt. I recommend this book for mature teens and adults.
October 31, 2010
This is tough, but wonderful book for tweens.
Serenity's home life is an urban tragedy. When she moves in with her grandparents she tries to manage the situation at school, her personal interests and the demons of her past. Serenity struggles with all of these making some understandable, but wrong-headed decisions. Serenity's strength and growth as a character are written beautifully. Watson's narrative makes use of biblical phrases, poetry, and charm that fully absorb the reader.
Don't let the cover deceive you. This book is best for late middle grade or early teens, and not 3rd or 4th graders. Hopefully, Bloomsbury will make a cover change for the paperback.
A 13 year old teen reviewer said, "it was a very sad book, and it pulled you in and made you not want to put it down."
An 11 year old reviewer said, "It was hard. It was about a girl named Serenity. her mother is dead, and she is keeping a lot of secrets from the people who are taking care of her, namely, her grandparents. It wasn't my favorite book, but it was a real page turner."
Both of these reviewers referenced the tough subject matter, yet the desire to keep reading. I completely agree with them.
Notable and should be considered for a CSK Award.
Serenity's home life is an urban tragedy. When she moves in with her grandparents she tries to manage the situation at school, her personal interests and the demons of her past. Serenity struggles with all of these making some understandable, but wrong-headed decisions. Serenity's strength and growth as a character are written beautifully. Watson's narrative makes use of biblical phrases, poetry, and charm that fully absorb the reader.
Don't let the cover deceive you. This book is best for late middle grade or early teens, and not 3rd or 4th graders. Hopefully, Bloomsbury will make a cover change for the paperback.
A 13 year old teen reviewer said, "it was a very sad book, and it pulled you in and made you not want to put it down."
An 11 year old reviewer said, "It was hard. It was about a girl named Serenity. her mother is dead, and she is keeping a lot of secrets from the people who are taking care of her, namely, her grandparents. It wasn't my favorite book, but it was a real page turner."
Both of these reviewers referenced the tough subject matter, yet the desire to keep reading. I completely agree with them.
Notable and should be considered for a CSK Award.
October 13, 2020
This book was beautifully written and had an amazing and tragic story about dealing with grief and moving on. The story follows a young girl named Serenity who witnesses her mother's death. She and her brother live with her grandparents and start a new life in different schools, with different friends and go to her grandparent's church where her grandfather preaches. As serenity meets new friends she also experiences more losses and starts learning how to cope with the passing of her mother and remember the good memories too. This story shows grief, and healing and was beautifully written and an amazing book. If you get triggered by assault/ death I would not recommend but other than that I would recommend this book to anyone. I also really loved how this book was more of her journal than a book and each chapter has a sentence of our father which was her mother's favorite prayer, as well as a journal entry for her English class. Overall I highly recommend this book.
set-aside
December 8, 2019Curiosity about where the story was going kept me determined to stick it out until more than halfway through. I can do heavy reads, but dry and heavy is more difficult. This one just became too depressing, in a dry kind of way, for me to keep at it.
Love the cover for this reprinted edition, though.
Love the cover for this reprinted edition, though.
February 19, 2020
I really liked this. I loved how the story wrapped up so easily and beautiful. I love the happy end & the fact that religion and faith is embraced so much in this book.
3 stars because its written from the point of a 13 year old girl & its no wonder that I couldnt really connect to her + there just not a lot of plot going on. But I would definitely recommend it as an easy and very cute read.
3 stars because its written from the point of a 13 year old girl & its no wonder that I couldnt really connect to her + there just not a lot of plot going on. But I would definitely recommend it as an easy and very cute read.
July 23, 2018
Middle grade novel. Serenity’s mother has died in horrible circumstance that she doesn’t want to talk about. Her father has left and she’s not sure if he’s coming back. Serenity uses her writing, both journal entries and poems to help her process her feelings.
January 2, 2019
Very moving book about a young girl processing grief. LOVE the new cover.
July 28, 2021
This book is pretty unique and I'm very glad it's in my public library. I read Piecing Me Together a couple years ago and remember being impressed by it and this new release by the same author has a similar vibe. The story is about an African American middle school girl facing very difficult circumstances. Because her struggles are not things my middle school child faces and they could be troubling to read about, I won't recommend this to my daughter until she's at least 16. That said, I thought the author did an incredible job handling real world problems. She wrote about the temptations faced by today's youth in a truthful way without telling too much and without swearing.
What was so incredible to me was the way the author wrote about the Christian life! Honestly, it blew my socks off. This isn't necessarily a "Christian book" and I feel like if there's a Christian character in fiction they're usually portrayed in a bad light. The protagonist in this story is taken in by God-fearing relatives who make her go to church but realizes the benefits of that spiritual guidance. She memorized Scripture (and not just John 3:16) and it speaks to her in moments of temptation. Scripture is referenced so much! The adult figures in the story who are anchors during turbulent times are strong Believers who share their faith with those around them the way real Christians do.
So... not for my middle school daughter quite yet, but this is a book I hope is on the shelves at public high school libraries. And I'll gladly hand it to my daughter in a few years when she's a bit more ready to handle the themes. What a great find!
What was so incredible to me was the way the author wrote about the Christian life! Honestly, it blew my socks off. This isn't necessarily a "Christian book" and I feel like if there's a Christian character in fiction they're usually portrayed in a bad light. The protagonist in this story is taken in by God-fearing relatives who make her go to church but realizes the benefits of that spiritual guidance. She memorized Scripture (and not just John 3:16) and it speaks to her in moments of temptation. Scripture is referenced so much! The adult figures in the story who are anchors during turbulent times are strong Believers who share their faith with those around them the way real Christians do.
So... not for my middle school daughter quite yet, but this is a book I hope is on the shelves at public high school libraries. And I'll gladly hand it to my daughter in a few years when she's a bit more ready to handle the themes. What a great find!
August 20, 2020
I cannot get enough of these powerful middle grade books that tell emotional stories featuring serious issues!
July 30, 2020
What Momma Left Me is a middle grade book covering so many important things in just 220 pages. I wasn't able to stop myself from not reading it and surprisingly, I didn't get teary eyed while reading which is soo important as it can be very overwhelming for people.
Blurb: Serenity is heartbroken. Her mother is dead and her father is gone, not contacting anyone from their family. She's not prepared for the changes that are about to happen and is afraid she won't be able to engage in cooking, especially baking cakes. At first while living with her grandparents, things do look good - a friend who makes her feel connected and a boy who makes her feel seen. But when her brother, Danny, starts to go down the wrong path, the old fear set in. Will he end up like their dad? Will she end up like their mom?
***
Same old me, not knowing where to start. The writing seemed mature enough for readers of all ages. But what I want to stress here is how delicately subjects of domestic violence, suicide, and child sexual abuse were handled. Addressing these issues is not easy, even more so when it comes to books meant for young readers. Secondly, I really loved the character development throughout the book. And did I mention that it is soo poetic? That has to be the best part for me because after reading every short poem I felt more connected with the book.
Blurb: Serenity is heartbroken. Her mother is dead and her father is gone, not contacting anyone from their family. She's not prepared for the changes that are about to happen and is afraid she won't be able to engage in cooking, especially baking cakes. At first while living with her grandparents, things do look good - a friend who makes her feel connected and a boy who makes her feel seen. But when her brother, Danny, starts to go down the wrong path, the old fear set in. Will he end up like their dad? Will she end up like their mom?
***
Same old me, not knowing where to start. The writing seemed mature enough for readers of all ages. But what I want to stress here is how delicately subjects of domestic violence, suicide, and child sexual abuse were handled. Addressing these issues is not easy, even more so when it comes to books meant for young readers. Secondly, I really loved the character development throughout the book. And did I mention that it is soo poetic? That has to be the best part for me because after reading every short poem I felt more connected with the book.
July 6, 2010
Right away you know this novel is going to put a unique and heartbreaking twist on the motherless child story. Serenity's father killed her mother. Serenity and Danny know that he did it but they think maybe he doesn't realize that he actually KILLED their mother and that's why he hasn't come back. They keep hoping their father will come back for them. I was taken by surprise by what happened concerning their father.There are signs that Danny is turning into his father, always angry and heading down the wrong path. There are also signs that Serenity is turning into her mother, passive and a keeper of secrets. The book focuses mostly on Serenity but since she is so close to her brother we get to see his growth (the good and the bad) clearly. Something I really loved was the relationship between Serenity and Jay. Jay is the 8th grade version of a "bad boy", but he's complex and their relationship (if you can call that) is refreshingly realistic. they don't go too fast for 8th graders and Serenity is not always comfortable going out with a "bad boy."
The cover is a bit misleading. It's absolutely adorable. Almost too adorable due to subject matter and that the book is for middle grade readers. The cover makes it look like something for elementary school students. However I love having Serenity on the cover holding a cake :) I wasn't expecting the book to have such a Christian bent but it wasn't that big deal, especially since Serenity is questioning her faith which is something everyone does. Each chapter is headlined by a word or two from the Our Father. I don't think this added anything to the story, it would have been nice if it connected to the content in the chapter.
The cover is a bit misleading. It's absolutely adorable. Almost too adorable due to subject matter and that the book is for middle grade readers. The cover makes it look like something for elementary school students. However I love having Serenity on the cover holding a cake :) I wasn't expecting the book to have such a Christian bent but it wasn't that big deal, especially since Serenity is questioning her faith which is something everyone does. Each chapter is headlined by a word or two from the Our Father. I don't think this added anything to the story, it would have been nice if it connected to the content in the chapter.
Read
March 23, 2020TW / CW : Mention of sexual assault , murder , suicide , death
What Momma Left me is a powerful and sensitive story about healing and recovering.
Serenity , after the tragic death of her mother , comes to love with her grandparents (her mom's parents) who are Pastor and a choir singer . Serenity has a little brother and her father is MIA. Serenity has secrets. Lots of them.
I've read Ways to make sunshine , also a beautiful middle grade story by Renée Watson. I've always wanted to read all of her Middle grade books. It's destiny I got the "no credit card subscription" for Scribd and I discovered this book and lots of others by Renée available in Scribd.
Serenity is a compassionate , loving and nurturing kid of 13. I loved how she fit into her school and her grandparents home , even church. She's one of the silent kids , even if you meet them daily , you forget about them eventually (*ahem* me) . Serenity is relatable. Her love for family and friends is amazing.
The next ones are the Claire's. Grandparents of Danny and Serenity. I still can't believe they actually urged the kids to go to psychiatrists. What the kids went through was a traumatic experience. But grandparents believing in psychiatrists is still shocking.
Danny and Maria are classic side characters who are completely able to steal the show even if they aren't more present. Loved them.
I admire the way Renée decides to portray Jay . Jay is a great character with a twist and I loved the scenes with him.
You should try out What Momma left me , if you like
🌟Renée Watson (duh)
🌟To read more about middle graders struggling through life
🌟Wholesome books with families
🌟Kick ass and compassionate women
What Momma Left me is a powerful and sensitive story about healing and recovering.
Serenity , after the tragic death of her mother , comes to love with her grandparents (her mom's parents) who are Pastor and a choir singer . Serenity has a little brother and her father is MIA. Serenity has secrets. Lots of them.
I've read Ways to make sunshine , also a beautiful middle grade story by Renée Watson. I've always wanted to read all of her Middle grade books. It's destiny I got the "no credit card subscription" for Scribd and I discovered this book and lots of others by Renée available in Scribd.
Serenity is a compassionate , loving and nurturing kid of 13. I loved how she fit into her school and her grandparents home , even church. She's one of the silent kids , even if you meet them daily , you forget about them eventually (*ahem* me) . Serenity is relatable. Her love for family and friends is amazing.
The next ones are the Claire's. Grandparents of Danny and Serenity. I still can't believe they actually urged the kids to go to psychiatrists. What the kids went through was a traumatic experience. But grandparents believing in psychiatrists is still shocking.
Danny and Maria are classic side characters who are completely able to steal the show even if they aren't more present. Loved them.
I admire the way Renée decides to portray Jay . Jay is a great character with a twist and I loved the scenes with him.
You should try out What Momma left me , if you like
🌟Renée Watson (duh)
🌟To read more about middle graders struggling through life
🌟Wholesome books with families
🌟Kick ass and compassionate women
July 19, 2020
I first noticed this book in a local bookstore and it immediately spoke to me. Reading Serenity’s story about dealing with grief, friendship and bad boys was truly touching.
Poetry is her way of coping and man, does she write beautifully.
‘What Momma Left Me’ is painful yet beautiful and honest.
Poetry is her way of coping and man, does she write beautifully.
‘What Momma Left Me’ is painful yet beautiful and honest.
June 19, 2020
Ok.. this book was amazing! Throughout its pages my heart was broken to pieces and slowing pieces back together.
Why do women and girls keep such horrible secrets?
Serenity and her brother Danny are sent to live with their grandparents after the tragic death of their mother. Moving into their grandparents house means starting over; new house, new friends, new school and new church. The only thing Serenity takes with her are the secrets she's been taught to keep. When the secrets become too much Serenity must decide if keeping them is better or if she should let them go and give herself a chance to heal.
What Momma Left Me is so much more than your average story. With characters you can't help but falling in love with and writing that draws you in from the beginning, Watson takes you on a journey of pain, love and healing that you won't soon forget. Serenity is such a sweet main character. You won't be able to help adoring her. The situations she faces and works through at such a tender age will make you cheer her on long after the story has ended.
You can't truly enjoy a happy ending if you skip through all the bad parts.
I feel like this book would be good for about 10 years and older. While there is mature content, it is not graphic or detailed. We are given enough detail to break out hearts without it being graphic.
Why do women and girls keep such horrible secrets?
Serenity and her brother Danny are sent to live with their grandparents after the tragic death of their mother. Moving into their grandparents house means starting over; new house, new friends, new school and new church. The only thing Serenity takes with her are the secrets she's been taught to keep. When the secrets become too much Serenity must decide if keeping them is better or if she should let them go and give herself a chance to heal.
What Momma Left Me is so much more than your average story. With characters you can't help but falling in love with and writing that draws you in from the beginning, Watson takes you on a journey of pain, love and healing that you won't soon forget. Serenity is such a sweet main character. You won't be able to help adoring her. The situations she faces and works through at such a tender age will make you cheer her on long after the story has ended.
You can't truly enjoy a happy ending if you skip through all the bad parts.
I feel like this book would be good for about 10 years and older. While there is mature content, it is not graphic or detailed. We are given enough detail to break out hearts without it being graphic.
Read
August 4, 2011This book is a simple but beautiful story of a thirteen year old girl struggling to make sense of her life after the death of her mother.
The book is very readable, with a main character (Serenity) that struggles with all the issues of being a teen, as well as the bigger challenge of her mother's death.
I really enjoyed the bits from Serenity's journal at the beginning of each chapter as she uses something from her writing class to begin to develop a voice as a writer.
Serenity struggles with her attraction to the neighborhood bad boy (who isn't all bad, but certainly is involved with things she knows she wants to keep a distance from). She takes comfort from her church at one moment while railing at God the next, as part of her process of coming to terms with her life and spirituality.
She has strong role models in her life, and she's trying to figure out how her mother and her mother's choices fit into the patterns Serenity is starting to figure out.
There are no pat conclusions or easy answers to be found, but there is hope that life is improving, and that the actions we take on our behalf and on behalf of our friends can make a difference. It was a great message without being obnoxious in the process.
The book is very readable, with a main character (Serenity) that struggles with all the issues of being a teen, as well as the bigger challenge of her mother's death.
I really enjoyed the bits from Serenity's journal at the beginning of each chapter as she uses something from her writing class to begin to develop a voice as a writer.
Serenity struggles with her attraction to the neighborhood bad boy (who isn't all bad, but certainly is involved with things she knows she wants to keep a distance from). She takes comfort from her church at one moment while railing at God the next, as part of her process of coming to terms with her life and spirituality.
She has strong role models in her life, and she's trying to figure out how her mother and her mother's choices fit into the patterns Serenity is starting to figure out.
There are no pat conclusions or easy answers to be found, but there is hope that life is improving, and that the actions we take on our behalf and on behalf of our friends can make a difference. It was a great message without being obnoxious in the process.
November 14, 2019
Serenity has not had an easy life. As a newly minted teenager, several tragic events occur, leaving Serenity to navigate significant trauma.
Although this book is targeted at middle level readers, it explores tough topics. Characters consider what kinds of secrets need to be told. How sometimes talking about the really tough stuff is incredibly painful at first, but is necessary with healing.
Overall, author Renee Watson shares beautiful lines in this accessible coming-of-age story. I want to especially remember the metaphor of the cake ingredients that Serenity's grandmother shares with her towards the end of the book.
Although this book is targeted at middle level readers, it explores tough topics. Characters consider what kinds of secrets need to be told. How sometimes talking about the really tough stuff is incredibly painful at first, but is necessary with healing.
Overall, author Renee Watson shares beautiful lines in this accessible coming-of-age story. I want to especially remember the metaphor of the cake ingredients that Serenity's grandmother shares with her towards the end of the book.
December 4, 2010
My eleven-year-old daughter read this book first, and she couldn't put it down. She read it within 24 hours. After I began reading it, I saw why she couldn't put it down. The storytelling is wonderful. I really enjoyed this book and the way Ms. Watson tells the truth in her writing. She doesn't hold back. She allows her characters to have tragedy, feel pain, fall in love with the wrong people, make mistakes, etc. This is a great book and I highly recommend it for middle-school kids, boys and girls, and of any race.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews