We Are Not Broken

by George M Johnson

Overview

New memoir from George M. Johnson, the New York Times bestselling author of All Boys Aren't Blue—a "deeply impactful" (Nic Stone), "striking and joyful" (Laurie Halse Anderson), and "stunning read" (Publishers Weekly, starred) that celebrates Black boyhood and brotherhood in all its glory. 

This is the vibrant story of George, Garrett, Rall, and Rasul — four children raised by Nanny, their fiercely devoted grandmother. The boys hold one another close through early brushes with racism, memorable experiences at the family barbershop, and first loves and losses. And with Nanny at their center, they are never broken.

George M. Johnson captures the unique experience of growing up as a Black boy in America through rich family stories that explore themes of vulnerability, sacrifice, and culture.

Complete with touching letters from the grandchildren to their beloved matriarch and a full color photo insert, this heartwarming and heartbreaking memoir is destined to become a modern classic of emerging adulthood.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780759554634
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	01/03/2023
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	146,508
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

George M. Johnson is an award winning Black nonbinary writer, author, and activist based in the New York City area and the author of memoirs We Are Not Broken and New York Times bestseller All Boys Aren't Blue. They have written on race, gender, sex, and culture for Essence, the Advocate, BuzzFeed News, Teen Vogue, and more than forty other national publications. They invite you to visit them online at iamgmjohnson.com and on Twitter @IamGMJohnson. 

Table of Contents

Author's Note xiii

Introduction, "All shut eyes ain't sleep." xvii

Chapter 1 My Cousins. My Brothers. 1

Chapter 2 Saturdaze 17

Lil' Rall to Nanny 30

Chapter 3 They Both Did It 37

Chapter 4 You'll Shoot Your Eye Out 53

Chapter 5 Barbershop Talk 65

Justice's Letter to Nanny 78

Chapter 6 911, What's Your Emergency? 81

Rasul to Nanny 96

Chapter 7 Did We Kill Matt? 99

Matt to Nanny 115

Chapter 8 New Home, New Beginnings 121

Garrett to Nanny (Spoken at Her Funeral) 130

Chapter 9 What Happened to the Yams? 133

Chapter 10 Wedding Bells and Brawls 145

Chapter 11 Boyz to Men 161

Chapter 12 All Good Things Must Come to an End 175

Chapter 13 Amazing Grace 187

Kennedy to Nanny 206

Chapter 14 We Are Not Broken 211

Acknowledgments 219

Reading Group Guide 223

Editorial Reviews

★ 08/16/2021

In a heartwarming and sapient memoir exploring Black boyhood, womanhood, and joy, Johnson (All Boys Aren’t Blue) introduces young readers to their maternal grandmother, who “didn’t take no shit,” and the New Jersey childhood and adolescence that they, their brother, and their cousins spent under her care. Beginning each anecdotal chapter with a “Nannyism”—bits of the matriarch’s wisdom, including “a lie ain’t a side of the story. It’s a lie”—Johnson examines their youth through appreciative and critical lenses. The narrative spans their relationship with their brother and cousins, early experiences with racial discrimination, coming to terms with their queerness, and the death of their grandmother. Interweaved are letters from the cousins to Nanny, detailing her dedication to making sure they had each other as well as the tools to navigate “living in a society that sees you as disposable.” An intensely emotional, stunning read, Johnson’s memoir memorializes the legacy of their grandmother—and all of the Black grandmothers who have built the foundations necessary to ensure that their families would not only survive but flourish. Ages 14–up. Agent: Patrice Caldwell, New Leaf Literary. (Sept.)■

Publishers Weekly

"A deeply impactful account of intergenerational love that reveals the power of accepting young people exactly as they are while encouraging them to be ever more themselves. George Matthew Johnson has done it again!"—Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin

"George M. Johnson has done it again — they have written a beautiful book that will take up a honey-sweet and sun-warmed residence in my soul for a long time to come. We Are Not Broken is a gorgeous love letter to Black matriarchs who give everything to love, care for and protect their children. It’s about the importance of family and the unbreakable bonds that supersede blood and last far longer than a lifetime. While society constantly villfies Black boys before they can even reach puberty, We Are Not Broken shares stories about how love, care and the freedom to be soft and vulnerable can be not only healing, but life-changing."
 —Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys

“We Are Not Broken feels like a long conversation, like those that spill into the early morning. It is intimate. Revelatory. Powerful. George M. Johnson centers Nanny in this memoir, charting the importance she played not only in their life, but in the life of a sprawling, loving, and deeply complex family. Seen through their eyes (and some deeply touching letters from others), it’s the story of a brilliant Black woman and the invaluable lessons she taught all those who knew her. A must-read journey."
 —Mark Oshiro, award-winning author of Anger is a Gift

"Love—deep, soulful, clarifying love—shines in George M. Johnson's writing like sunlight passing through a church's stained-glass windows. Their storytelling and the mission that propels the telling is always right on time."—Saeed Jones, award-winning author of How We Fight For Our Lives

“George Johnson writes emotions the way the greatest writers write characters.  I've literally never read a book that made me feel so many layered emotions I'd forgotten or was afraid to accept. This is lush luxurious art doing hard messy heartwork.”—Kiese Laymon, award-winning author of Long Division

“Striking and joyful, this second memoir from George M. Johnson celebrates family and friendships and will make readers feel seen. This book is love!”
 —Laurie Halse Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of Shout

"An intensely emotional, stunning read, Johnson’s memoir memorializes the legacy of their grandmother—and all of the Black grandmothers who have built the foundations necessary to ensure that their families would not only survive but flourish."—Publishers Weekly

"This sequel to All Boys Aren't Blue poignantly recalls author Johnson's childhood...Johnson, who grew up identifying as a gay, effeminate teen boy, shares how they always felt protected and loved within their family. There's not a lot of current literature that explores stories of young, Black, gay men. This accessible and reflective memoir helps fill that gap."—Booklist

"The stories in this book are full of joy, love, humor, and pain...Through this love letter to the matriarch of their family, Johnson highlights all the ways the world tried to break them but didn’t succeed." 
 —SLJ

From the Publisher

09/01/2021

Gr 9 Up—This work from Johnson (All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto) introduces readers to the concept of black wholeness. The life of one black family is honestly examined in a thought-provoking way. Lil' Rall, Rasul, George, and Garrett have a bond that was forged over summers spent with their grandmother. They experienced challenges that many young black boys face but were bolstered by their grandmother's unwavering love and support. They learned how to love each other and fight with and for each other, by watching the ways their grandmother handled life. Nanny's faith, wisdom, and practicality impacts each of the boys differently. She introduces them to entrepreneurship, self-advocacy, and self-love. Through her faith in God and family, she managed to create a space that allowed all of her grandchildren to express their complete humanity. The stories in this book are full of joy, love, humor, and pain. The boys, who all became successful young men, write letters depicting all the ways their grandmother's love sustained them. Through this love letter to the matriarch of their family, Johnson highlights all the ways the world tried to break them but didn't succeed. This is a multifaceted examination of all the ways his grandmother inoculated her grandsons with her steadfast love, which would act as a buffer between the boys and a world bent on limiting their humanity and their joy. VERDICT The themes covered in this memoir are ideal for high school students. Recommended for public and high school libraries.—Desiree Thomas, Worthington Lib., OH

School Library Journal

George Johnson narrates their touching memoir, offering vivid glances at the joys of Black boyhood through short quips of wisdom from their grandmother. Each chapter focuses on a particular “Nannyism” and examines how it affected their relationship with their brother and cousins, as well as informed their experience of being queer and Black. The audiobook also features letters from the cousins to Nanny, one of which is rapped in perfect rhythm. Johnson’s intimate narration unfolds conversationally, maintains a leisurely pace, and even finds them close to tears in some segments. They hold nothing back, ultimately celebrating a family that is flourishing from their Nanny’s legacy. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

SEPTEMBER 2021 - AudioFile

George Johnson narrates their touching memoir, offering vivid glances at the joys of Black boyhood through short quips of wisdom from their grandmother. Each chapter focuses on a particular “Nannyism” and examines how it affected their relationship with their brother and cousins, as well as informed their experience of being queer and Black. The audiobook also features letters from the cousins to Nanny, one of which is rapped in perfect rhythm. Johnson’s intimate narration unfolds conversationally, maintains a leisurely pace, and even finds them close to tears in some segments. They hold nothing back, ultimately celebrating a family that is flourishing from their Nanny’s legacy. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

SEPTEMBER 2021 - AudioFile