Lockington, Mariama J. I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm. 2025.352p. Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers, $19.99 (ISBN13: 9780374388904)
Rating
Buy it for the Adoptee Bookshelf: 4 Stars!
Identities Represented
- Past foster youth currently in kinship care
- Black
- Queer, pansexual
Review
Lyric is an aspiring cosmetologist and BeautyStarz influencer in a world centered around white norms. She has been living with and caring for her Grammy Viv after being bounced around in foster care. Lyric was taken away from her mom at a young age and was never in control after. “Lyric has a serious anger issue for such a young girl.” The family court looked at her as another file, and the trauma of the family system did its damage. Closed off to relationships and romance, Lyric happens upon Juniper for the perfect holiday romance photo shoot that goes viral on BeautyStarz. Both are saving money for different reasons, and Lyric convinces Juniper to pose as a fake girlfriend to attract followers and secure brand deals. Juniper does have a crush on Lyric, and getting Lyric to open up is harder than she originally thought it would be. At home, Juniper’s moms are working through marital issues and have expectations that Juniper go to college. Juniper is working on telling them that she doesn’t want what they want for her. Mariama J. Lockington illustrates the complexities of each family situation and how both girls are building relationships. Written from two points of view, Lyric’s chapters are written in prose with occasional flashbacks to her time in foster care. Juniper’s chapters are written in verse with flashbacks from episodes throughout her moms’ tumultuous relationship. More than a queer holiday romance, this book tackles what healing from trauma and healthy communication in relationships can look like for young people!
Perspectives
Lyic’s story is narrated in the present, in kinship care with her Grammy Viv. The measures she takes to protect herself, her Grammy, and her emotions are obvious. In her flashbacks, it is painful to see how what was best for Lyric was continuously overlooked by the court system. In Juniper’s case, her voice is also not centered. Her storyline is an example of finding her voice. Both stories are great examples of how to build a healthy relationship after trauma.
Adoptees and children separated from family have experienced a severing of an important attachment, and building trust again or accepting love can feel scary. This book provides a beautiful opportunity to show a young adult that they are worthy of receiving it.
Practice (Educational Use & Considerations)
A perfect independent read for a young adult reader. With holiday vibes, a friends-to-lovers, slow-burn romance, this book will intrigue a high school reader, and it may heal them, too. A book that provides a multitude of mirrors for identity, this book is worth putting on the bookshelf just to have it!
The Adoptee Bookshelf 