Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

Student-Led Discussion Possible Topics

Part One: You might consider answering some of these questions to get you started. You should not feel that
you are limited to these questions, though.

1. Chapter One opens with an epigraph, “I am learning to speak. To give myself a way out. A way in” (1). How
does language and expression play an important role in Jade’s personal journey? Language and expression
plays an important role in Jade’s personal journey because she eventually learns how to speak up to the
Mentor to Mentor program when she feels as if they are trying to “fix” her because of the color she is, and
the environment she grew up in. Throughout the book, she learns to grow a voice, but in the beginning she is
a shy girl, who goes to school feeling like she doesn’t belong, like an outsider in a world of wealthy, white
people.

2. In sharing details of her identity, Jade states, “girls like me, with coal skin and hula-hoop hips, whose
mommas barely make enough money to keep food in the house, have to take opportunities every chance we
get” (6). How do these descriptive details illustrate pride? How does this passage also illustrate pressure
on Jade? These descriptive details illustrate pride because she is demonstrating that she isn’t
embarrassed or ashamed of her home life, and she is willing to do anything to succeed in life, with any
opportunities that are coming her way. This passage also illustrates pressure on Jade because she barely
has enough money to have food in her house, and basically needs to raise herself in these kinds of ways, like
for college, when she could be given amazing opportunities to eventually get a scholarship. (Ex. the Mentor
to Mentor program she is rewarded with a scholarship). She has pressure to learn how to make
opportunities for herself, and the way she does this is by speaking up for herself to help everyone realize
how she is feeling on the inside.

3. How do Jade’s relationships with other characters (her mother, her brother, Maxine, Sam, etc.) contribute
to her personal growth in the novel? Jade’s relationship with other characters contributes to her personal
growth in the novel because they are always pushing her to be the best person she could be. Her mother is
the hardest working person Jade will and have ever met in her lifetime, and is always trying to do the best
for Jade. She is working nonstop to have enough money to support Jade and is Jade’s supporter throughout
her life. Jade knows that she needs to take any opportunity she can to make her mother proud. At first,
her mother didn’t love the idea of Jade hanging out with Maxine for the Women to Women program
because she thought of Maxine as a bad influence on Jade. Jade was disappointed with her mom because
her mom was wanting her to do this program because it would lead to a scholarship, but eventually her
mother realizes that Maxine is a great role model and she becomes more supportive of her ideas, goals, and
her involvement in Women to Women. Another person who contributed to her personal growth in the novel
was Sam. Even though they had many difficulties and differences in their friendship, the ideas that Sam
portrayed to Jade made her open up her mind and explore what she felt on the inside and what she wanted
to involve in Women to Women.

4. How does the intersection between racial stereotyping and classism impact characters in the novel? The
intersection between racial stereotyping and classism impacts characters in the novel because it makes
Jade feel as if she is an outsider to the white people. The “rich white people” that go to St. Francis thinks
that anyone who lives outside of the wealthy neighborhoods nearby the school are black and poor. Jade
 wants people to understand that everyone is the same, no matter the color of their skin. Another
circumstance that takes place is with Sam. Sam never fully understood what Jade was going through,
whether it was the stealing situation with the clerk in the shopping store, or the Natasha Ramsey incident.
She thinks that every black person is treated the same as a white person, but that really isn’t the truth,
and deep down she probably knows that as well.

5. To what extent does Jade resolve her internal and external conflicts? Jade finally resolves her internal
and external conflicts by coming together with Women to Women along with Sabrina who is extremely open
to all ideas that Jade brings to the table, and Jade gets to show a piece of her art in an auction for their
annual fundraiser. As well as this, she becomes extremely close with Maxine after telling her that she is
troubled by the situation they are in, and feels like she has no voice while she is with her. Jade is finally
happy about herself, and is excited to work and meet new people who would be interested in supporting
young women the way Jade feels they need to be supported. She has finally grown to overcome her fears of
being unspoken and without a voice, and is now intrigued about how wonderful the Women to Women
program is in the way that the mentors really listen to you. Jade explains to a man at the auction, “I tell
him I’ve learned I don’t have to wait to be given an opportunity, but that I can make an opportunity and use
my voice to speak up for what I need and want”(238). She is explaining that she had finally used her voice
to speak up for the opportunities that she wanted in her life, and she wasn’t going to keep waiting for them
to approach her. Eventually, Jade and Lee Lee decide to throw their own open mic and art show in honor of
Natasha Ramsey. Their plan was to have some of Jade’s art and other volunteers to display their art, and
the proceeds could be given to Natasha’s family. They finally have their event, and Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey
arrived. This major event that had occurred in the novel clearly demonstrated that Jade was able to
resolve her internal and external events, and was able to be seen by speaking up for herself, and creating
opportunities for herself that she had always dreamed of.

Part Two: Here is some food for thought with regards to how topics in the novel might relate to you:

● What does identity mean to you? Identity means being who I am myself, and what I want to be. It means
having my own voice and my own ideas and mind, and being able to express myself to others.
● How do you identify when you are with your family? I identify when I am with my family by speaking up
when I am upset, or am in the need of something. I show happiness and enjoyment when I am with my
family, and never have a frown on my face.
● Does your identity change when in public or with your friends? My identity does not seem to change when I
am in public or with my friends because I always try to be the person I am, no matter who is around me.
Sometimes I can be shy depending on who the people around me are, but I still know that I have a voice,
and it is meant to be used in the ways I want it to be used.
● How do you feel society identifies you? I feel society identifies me as being an outgoing and kind person to
others. I feel as if society identifies me as wanting to be as inclusive to others as possible.
● How would you like to be identified? I would like to be identified as a caring, kind, smart, and outgoing
person. I would like to be the person people go to for someone to talk to, or if they are in need of help.
● What advantages or disadvantages do you feel you have experienced because of your identity? I feel that I
have many advantages that I have experienced because of my identity because I am friendly and outgoing
to others that are the same towards me. It is a wonderful feeling and way to make more friends, and feel
that you just did something right. I have experienced some disadvantages as well including being shy around
people that I am not as familiar with, and making it feel as if I wasn’t included in the way that everyone
else was.