Rain Rising

by Courtne Comrie, Angel Pean (Read by), TBD (Read by), Iva-Marie Palmer (Read by)

Overview

An inspiring debut middle grade novel-in-verse about Rain, who must overcome sadness after her all-star brother is badly beaten up at a frat party. Genesis Begins Again meets Brown Girl Dreaming in this powerful story of perseverance, family, and hope.

"A gorgeous debut: a necessary, cathartic, immersive healing experience.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“In this gut-wrenching verse novel by debut author Comrie, thirteen-year-old City Middle School student Rain Washington grapples with the aftermath of a violent racist attack. . . . Comrie sensitively tackles myriad topics, including colorism, fiscal scarcity, and structural racism, as well as their effects on mental health, in this impressive volume." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“This lovingly crafted novel-in-verse is a much-needed reminder that compassion, both for oneself and others, can help make the world right as rain.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

“A searing exploration of the intricacies of racism, privilege, and self-worth within the confines of the Black community. Rain’s journey is one that includes an acceptance of all the pieces of her identity that make her whole and unique.” —ALA Booklist

Rain is keeping a big secret from everyone around her: She's sad. All the time. Rain struggles with her image and feels inferior to her best friend, Nara. Not even her all-star student-athlete big brother (and personal superhero), Xander, can help Rain with her dark thoughts and low self-esteem.

And when Xander becomes the victim of violence at a predominantly white university, Rain’s life and mind take a turn for the worse. But when her favorite teacher, Miss Walia, invites her to an after-school circle group, Rain finds the courage to help herself and her family heal.

Like the rain, she is both gentle and a force, finding strength to rise again.

“You can't help but fall in love with this book. Heartbreaking, emotional, and a ride well worth taking.” —Marie Arnold, author of The Year I Flew Away and I Rise

“Everyone who reads this will be inspired by Rain's dedication to finding healing.” —Elisabet Velasquez, author of When We Make It

A 2023 Bank Street Books Best Children's Book of the Year for Ages 12–14 in Fiction (Contemporary Issues)!

A 2025 Evergreen Teen Book Award nominee!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798212036511
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	09/27/2022
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.00(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Courtne Comrie is a poet and writer who prefers tackling heavy topics through simplistic and beautiful verse. Born in Toronto, Canada, but raised in the Bronx and Mount Vernon, New York, she graduated from CUNY Lehman College with a BA in creative writing through TheDream.US scholarship for undocumented students. She is an educator, mentor, and an aunt to three amazing humans. Visit her online at www.courtnecomrie.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 08/15/2022

In this gut-wrenching verse novel by debut author Comrie, 13-year-old City Middle School student Rain Washington grapples with the aftermath of a violent racist attack. Rain, whose skin is “darker than milk chocolate,” wishes she could be more like her popular best friend, who is both thinner than Rain and has lighter skin and looser curls. Rain also struggles to manage a “sadness that’s so hard to escape from,” which is only sometimes momentarily alleviated by her older brother Xander (“No one can distract me from my sadness like he can”). Academically excellent and athletically skilled, X is Rain’s hero, so when he is viciously attacked by racist white college students while visiting a university campus, Rain’s sadness “rises so strong inside that I can’t stop my leg from shaking.” Further emotional upsets, such as increasingly frequent visits from her previously absent father and X’s newly jaded outlook on life, threaten to drown Rain, but budding friendships and a benevolent community put the family on a path toward healing. Through Rain’s meditative and intimate-feeling voice, Comrie sensitively tackles myriad topics, including colorism, fiscal scarcity, and structural racism, as well as their effects on mental health, in this impressive volume. Ages 8–12. Agent: Rena Rossner, Deborah Harris Agency. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"A gorgeous debut: a necessary, cathartic, immersive healing experience.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“In this gut-wrenching verse novel by debut author Comrie, 13-year-old City Middle School student Rain Washington grapples with the aftermath of a violent racist attack . . . .Comrie sensitively tackles myriad topics, including colorism, fiscal scarcity, and structural racism, as well as their effects on mental health, in this impressive volume." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A searing exploration of the intricacies of racism, privilege, and self-worth within the confines of the Black community. Rain’s journey is one that includes an acceptance of all the pieces of her identity that make her whole and unique.”  — Booklist

"This captivating novel about honoring your feelings and learning to love yourself brought up so many emotions. I loved how it normalizes attending therapy and working through your traumas. RAIN RISING is a powerful and beautifully written debut!” — Janae Marks, author of From the Desk of Zoe Washington

"Rain Rising is a powerful novel about mental health, self-love, and family. We need more depictions of Black girls who live with depression, who are in therapy, and find ways to shine with the support of family, friends, and beloved community. I ached alongside Rain in her grief, and was lifted up by her hope and courage. An important, beautiful book filled with tenderness and heart." — Mariama J. Lockington, author of For Black Girls Like Me and In the Key of Us

“With a main character you can't help but fall in love with, Rain Rising tackles difficult subjects with grace and gives us characters that are complex yet relatable, fragile yet strong willed. Comrie‘s debut novel is heartbreaking, emotional and at times humorous. This is a ride well worth taking.”  — Marie Arnold, author of The Year I Flew Away and I Rise

“I knew I would enjoy this book by the title. In a journal entry Rain writes, "It's crazy how much healing can come from just being honest." Rain Rising tells the truth about not feeling enough for the world and finding the courage to keep going in spite of it. I know every young person who reads this will be inspired by Rain's dedication to finding healing for herself and her family. I look forward to seeing this out in the world.”  — Elisabet Velasquez, author of When We Make It

“This lovingly crafted novel-in-verse is a much-needed reminder that compassion, both for oneself and others, can help make the world right as rain.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

From the Publisher

With a main character you can't help but fall in love with, Rain Rising tackles difficult subjects with grace and gives us characters that are complex yet relatable, fragile yet strong willed. Comrie‘s debut novel is heartbreaking, emotional and at times humorous. This is a ride well worth taking.” 

Marie Arnold

"Rain Rising is a powerful novel about mental health, self-love, and family. We need more depictions of Black girls who live with depression, who are in therapy, and find ways to shine with the support of family, friends, and beloved community. I ached alongside Rain in her grief, and was lifted up by her hope and courage. An important, beautiful book filled with tenderness and heart."

Mariama J. Lockington

01/01/2023

Gr 3–7—Art truly has the power to save lives. Whether it is through poetry, writing, or step dancing, art channels the power of communication and healing to those who create and share it. In this heartfelt verse debut, Comrie relays the tale of young Black girl Rain, who is experiencing a low point in her life and trying to heal. Rain suffers from debilitating negative self-talk and low self-esteem, which hampers her growth and friendships. When her big brother Xander is brutally physically assaulted after a college visit, the entire family reels in the aftermath. Comrie seamlessly tackles many tough topics, such as self-harm, absentee fathers, mental health, and childhood trauma. This title could be used in social work settings about the importance of honest dialogue and normalizing therapy. Rain Rising is a hopeful text replaying powerful statements such as the need for better access for mental health and working toward "progress not perfect." VERDICT A coming-of-age middle school friendship drama disperses racist violence with justice served. Comrie provides another healthy outlet for youth to normalize exchanges about mental wellness.—Laura Dooley-Taylor

School Library Journal

Angel Pean narrates this powerful middle-grade novel in verse, told from the perspective of Rain, a Black eighth grader who battles depression. Rain’s hero is her popular, brilliant, and athletic brother, Xander. Her world is upended when he is attacked on a recruiting trip to a predominantly white university, and he becomes a “hashtag.” The story brings listeners behind the hashtag to the victim, the families, and the friends. Pean’s nuanced performance honors the difficult topics of depression, racism, grief, and trauma. Her deliberate and, at times, heavy pacing embodies the emotional weight of Rain’s world. Listeners will cry with Rain and root for her and her family. This audiobook gives young people permission to own their feelings and to find ways to heal. P.P.C. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2022 - AudioFile

Angel Pean narrates this powerful middle-grade novel in verse, told from the perspective of Rain, a Black eighth grader who battles depression. Rain’s hero is her popular, brilliant, and athletic brother, Xander. Her world is upended when he is attacked on a recruiting trip to a predominantly white university, and he becomes a “hashtag.” The story brings listeners behind the hashtag to the victim, the families, and the friends. Pean’s nuanced performance honors the difficult topics of depression, racism, grief, and trauma. Her deliberate and, at times, heavy pacing embodies the emotional weight of Rain’s world. Listeners will cry with Rain and root for her and her family. This audiobook gives young people permission to own their feelings and to find ways to heal. P.P.C. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2022 - AudioFile

★ 2022-07-13
In the aftermath of a brutal attack, a Black girl and her family discover that healing is progress, not perfection, as they strive to replace their sorrow with things they love.

Eighth grader Rain Washington lives with persistent sadness she can’t seem to escape. Even the doting attention of her beloved older brother, Xander, who goes by X, only offers brief reprieves from the unhappiness that consumes her. She wishes her name were more creative, believes her skin is too dark, and wants her body to be smaller. Her struggles are compounded by her father’s absence and her single mother’s work schedule. It seems that the worst is yet to come after X becomes the victim of a brutal attack by White fraternity members while visiting a college with a football teammate from his elite prep school. The attack’s aftermath challenges Rain’s limited coping mechanisms. New friendships and a healing circle facilitated by the school counselor provide Rain and her family the opportunity to confront generational trauma, develop healthy coping responses, and forge a new path forward with the tools to heal from current and past hurts and depression that may be genetic. The clear writing is authentic, gentle, and smooth, successfully exploring complex emotions and weighty topics, including poverty, self-harm, and racism. The even pacing is perfection. As Rain rises, readers are left rooting for her and others walking her journey.

A gorgeous debut: a necessary, cathartic, immersive healing experience. (Verse novel. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews