Forever Is Now, Mariama J. Lockington
Forever Is Now, Mariama J. Lockington
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Forever Is Now

Author: Mariama J. Lockington

Narrator: Angel Pean

Unabridged: 7 hr 13 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/23/2023


Synopsis

A poignant and lyrical young adult novel-in-verse about a Black teen coming of age in an anxiety-inducing world, from the author of For Black Girls Like Me and In the Key of Us.

I'm safe here.

That's how Sadie feels, on a perfect summer day, wrapped in her girlfriend's arms. School is out, and even though she’s been struggling to manage her chronic anxiety, Sadie is hopeful better times are ahead. Or at least, she thought she was safe. When her girlfriend reveals some unexpected news and the two witness a violent incident of police brutality unfold before them, Sadie’s whole world is upended in an instant.

I'm not safe anywhere.

That's how Sadie feels every day after―vulnerable, uprooted. She retreats inside as the weeks slip by and relies on her phone to stay connected to the outside world. When Sadie’s therapist gives her a diagnosis for her debilitating panic―agoraphobia―she starts on a path of acceptance and healing. Meanwhile, Sadie's best friend, Evan, updates her on the protests taking place in their city. Sadie wants to be a part of it, to use her voice and affect change. But how do you show up for your community when you can’t even leave your house?

I can build a safe place inside myself.

That’s what Sadie learns over the course of one life-changing summer, with some help from her family, her best friend, an online platform for activists, and a magnetic crush she develops for the new boy next door.

From critically acclaimed author Mariama J. Lockington comes Forever is Now, a powerful young adult novel-in-verse about mental health, love, family, Black joy, and finding your voice and power in an unforgiving world.

About The Author

Mariama J. Lockington is an adoptee, writer, and nonprofit educator. She has been telling stories and making her own books since the second grade, when she wore short-alls and flower leggings every day to school. She is the author of For Black Girls Like Me, her middle-grade debut, as well as a poetry chapbook The Lucky Daughter. Mariama holds a Masters in Education from Lesley University and Masters in Fine Arts in Poetry from San Francisco State University. She lives in Lexington, KY with her partner and dapple haired dachshund, Henry.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Anniek on May 23, 2023

In one single afternoon, Sadie's girlfriend breaks up with her, and then they witness police brutality, when police violently arrest a Black college student after she saves a white woman's dog from drowning and the woman accuses her of stealing her dog. Sadie, who already has anxiety and agoraphobia,......more

Goodreads review by Shannon on May 09, 2023

I picked this up for the GORGEOUS floral cover but stuck around for the AMAZING mental health rep in this lyrical, moving YA novel-in-verse that follows bisexual, Black teen, Sadie as she goes through a break-up, witnesses an act of police brutality and becomes agoraphobic. Sadie has always had a ge......more

Goodreads review by Mariella on October 30, 2024

A great representation of living with anxiety and how it harms both yourself and your relationships, but also about pushing up toward healing, even when we regress, and building freedom for ourselves in a world full of people who don't always understand what it is to live with anxiety disorders and......more

Goodreads review by kate on January 14, 2024

A beautiful and powerful read with one of the most relatable and honest depictions of anxiety and the effect it has on both the sufferer and their relationships with the world and people around them. There are passages in this book that were like a strangely cathartic sucker punch to the heart in th......more

Goodreads review by Candice on May 24, 2023

Mariama J. Lockington’s π™π™€π™§π™šπ™«π™šπ™§ 𝙄𝙨 𝙉𝙀𝙬 is a great YA contemporary for Black girls focusing on mental health, social activism, and poetry. The author is able to carefully showcase the main character Sadie and her diagnoses as an anxious Black girl as a normal occurrence and nothing to be embarrassed......more