Excerpt from Watch Us Rise by Renee Watson, Ellen Hagen, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

Chelsea wipes a tear from her face. "My mom and dad told me to ask if there is anything we can do?" Her voice sounds frail, and that is never, ever a word I think of to describe Chelsea.

Isaac says, "Yeah, my dad was asking too. He said he'd call a little later."

Dad looks like he is actually trying to think up something. He says, "I'll reach out to your parents if I need to. But, um, I do have something I'd like the four of you to do."

I lean forward. Nadine and Isaac sit up straighter. Chelsea says, "Anything."

"Well, like I said, I think it's tragic that you all are wasting your summer away. I didn't grow up in New York," Dad says. "I wish I'd had this rich culture at my fingertips."

"Dad, what does this have to do with us supporting you?" I ask.

"Oh, I don't need the kind of support you think I need, sweet-heart. I need you all to keep on working on you— your education, your life as artists— "

"Dad— "

"Just indulge me for a moment, okay?"

I sit back, lean against the cushions.

"Listen, I don't want your pity or worry," Dad says. "I want each of you to be out there learning and growing and discovering. You all are such talented artists— and I mean that. Get out, go see the places that present poetry, visual art, and theater made by people of color. Study some of the greats so your work can be influenced by them."


"Are you seriously giving us another summer challenge?" I ask. It's not the first time Dad has sent us on a summer scavenger hunt of the city, but usually it's a little more thought out. Like the time he sent us out with a map of Harlem and challenged us to find historical landmarks and spaces essential to the Harlem Renaissance. We had to take a photo in front of each place as proof. And then there was the time he challenged us to only go to movie theaters that showed independent films. We had to share our findings and write reviews. We're used to him sending us out with maps and a list of instructions. But I didn't expect this today.

"Let's call it the Brown Art Challenge," Dad says.

We all just look at him, blank stares.

"I'm serious. You want to show how much you love and care about me? Keep living," he tells us. "Go out and find some inspiration. Create some art in response to what you see."


Chelsea is the first to agree, saying, "Where should we start?" And just like that, the four of are sitting with Dad plotting and planning: Bronx Museum, Studio Museum, El Museo del Barrio. "And bonus points to the person who can surprise me with a place that's not on the list," Dad says. "But not the Schomburg Center. That would be cheating." Dad works at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and in some ways, it's my second home. I love it when an exhibit is just about to open and Dad brings me, Jason, and Mom to see it before anyone else.


Mom comes home with my brother, Jason, who is eight. He's been at summer camp all day and doesn't know about Dad yet. Mom gives me a look that tells me my company has to leave. And I wish they could stay because that would delay the moment my brother finds out that our dad is going to die. That would keep in these tears that want to fall so bad. I have been swallowing them since Chelsea, Nadine, and Isaac showed up. No matter how much Dad is trying to keep things normal with his New York City scavenger hunt, no matter how much we all try to laugh at his corny jokes, these tears are here. Pressing against my chest.

Mom says hello to everyone and takes Jason upstairs. She looks tired and worried and not like my mom at all.

Dad stands. "Thank you all for coming over."

We walk to the door. Chelsea opens her mouth, I think to say goodbye, but instead an avalanche of tears falls. And then Nadine starts. Isaac is looking down at the hardwood floors. Just staring.

"It's okay to cry," Dad says. "Feel whatever you need to feel. But listen, everything doesn't have to change just because the cancer is back. You four are starting your junior year. I want things to be as normal as possible, just like every other school year. No matter what happens this year, you all need to stay focused, do your best. Don't let me or any distraction get in your way," he says. "You all are just beginning."

Excerpted from Watch Us Rise by Renee Watson. Copyright © 2019 by Renee Watson. Excerpted by permission of Bloomsbury USA. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.