#13 - Thirsty by Jas Hammonds

 Just The Basics

    Published: May 14, 2024

    Genre: Realistic Fiction, Coming of age 

    Pages: 318 pages

    Acknowledgements: Good Reads Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2024)

        "I was glitter and whiskey and audacity, I was THAT BITCH!”

    "Thirsty" is a realistic fiction novel by Jas Hammonds about eighteen-year-old Blake Brenner's summer before her first year at college. Blake, a lesbian, and her girlfriend of four years, Ella, both dream of joining the all-Black Serena Society, eager to follow in the legacy of Ella's mom and many other prominent Black women in Virginia Beach. As Blake deals with crippling anxiety, a girlfriend she sees as way out of her league, parents who were never accepting of her Blackness, or her sexuality, Blake finds solace in underage drinking. From getting so drunk she vandalizes a yacht at the country club, consistently blacking out, throwing up on people she cares about, and always spiraling into self-hatred whenever she drinks, Blake has to decide if getting into the Serena Society is worth her sobriety and her ever-straining friendship with her friend Annetta. In a coming-of-age self-love story, Blake discovers who in her life is healthy and who in her life is toxic. 

    Why "Thirsty"?

    I have unfortunetly have a bit of an alcohol dependency streak in my family. Never really struggling with drinking to excess myself (once you've been to an intervention, you don't really have the desire to) I thought this novel seemed brave. Hammond's story popped up on a list of top YA books of last year, and after reading the synopsis, I felt a difficult curiosity to read this book. I knew this novel would be hard for me to read in places, reminding me of difficulties with those who abuse alcohol in my own life. But-- I knew I would find some transcendence in this story. I think it's important to look addiction straight in the face, and I have never seen a young adult novel brave enough to do this. This novel is partially about Blake trying to figure out her relationship with Ella and how badly they both want to make it into the Serena Society, but this book is also about caring for oneself when you spiral into a place where you hate yourself. Even for those of us who do not struggle with drinking, I think we have all had moments in our lives where we have struggled with self-love. I had hoped that the transcendence in this novel would be the main character getting sober, but also, I found a story about a young Black girl who learns to be kind to herself, take care of herself, and surround herself with people who want the best for her. 

    Teaching Considerations

     While I think Thistory would also be an amazing book to have in a youth rehab center, I also think this novel would fit well into a book club unit. Teaching this novel to a whole class might be a good way of sharing its lesson; however, I think whole-class instruction would remove some of the contemplative nature of Hammonds' work. I think the best age range for teaching this book is upperclassmen. But at the same time, this novel is very accessible to young high schoolers as well. This book opens with a content warning (something I haven't seen before on my YA journey) for alcohol addiction, self-hatred, suicidal ideation, racial microaggressions, transphobic rhetoric, and nonconsensual outing (of said trans individuals). I think a teacher would have to be as brave in teaching this work as Hammonds was in writing it. There is also quite a bit of sex, but all these moments always feel correct and age-appropriate. For the YA label, this book is mature, growing up way too fast-- just like Blake's character. The list of possible triggers should not be taken lightly. If this book finds the right (and emotionally ready) readers, I think it can make a big impact. 

      Sections to Read Aloud  & Reasoning

1. Chapter 8, Cherry Coke Slurpees 

• "And how could she get it? My mom was a white woman from Wytheville, Virginia, who'd had no meaningful relationships with Black people until she fell in love with my dad" (Page 98)

    A large portion of the rift between Blake and her mom comes from their racial issues. In this scene, Blake is 16 and is hanging out with her mom on an overnight 7-11 shift. This scene becomes important as it shapes Blake's view of herself and her own Blackness for the rest of the story. Her mom means well, and this scene would make a good close reading with a class to see if they think Blake is being "dramatic" or not (as she is often criticized by her friends for being). 

        2. How To Be A Disaster

• ''Erase the texts. Try not to cry. When your girlfriend emerges from the bathroom, laugh at the toothpaste she missed on her chin. Climb out of bed. Wince when you put weight on your knee. Get dressed. Resist the urge to vomit when you look at yourself in the mirror. Splash water on your face. Wipe away the night " (Page 216)

    Each major section of the novel ends with one of these "How to" sections. How To Be A Disaster is the most impactful, as it's when Blake is circling rock bottom in her life. Readalouds are a great opportunity to hook students. I think reading the above section aloud can not spoil too much of the plot of Thirsty, while exposing students to the themes of maintaining appearance, self-hatred, and the physiological side effects of drinking too much. 

    Overall Thoughts

        Thirsty dealt with a lot, all within a story that went by quickly. This book did make me sad, and was a hard read. It's difficult to understand that Blake needs better than she's giving herself, while still making self-destructive choices and drinking. But that's what dealing with a loved one who is struggling with addiction is like. If you have never had someone in your life desperately need help getting sober, this book simulates some of the emotions with surprising accuracy. This book was powerful, and sometimes not YA-feeling at all. This book (a lot like Rez Ball) refuses to pull any punches. The beautiful parts of this novel glimmer, while the difficult parts stink with vomit-scented breath. 

    Future Explorations

     I liked how Hammonds wrote dialogue in particular. Her other book is called "We Deserve Monuments," and I have seen lots of buzz about it as I did research on Thirsty. I love how Hammonds doesn't treat a younger audience like kids. She doesn't hide hard parts of adult life from them, and writes personal narratives that both warn of adult struggles and also highlight the power we have inside to love ourselves.