The Disability Book Archive

[ID: A book cover. The figure of a young black woman is down the middle. She has a brown afro, is wearing a yellow t-shirt, blue jeans and a long strip of red cloth around her left arm. A cable of string lights and various colourful flowers is wrapping loosely around her. The title “Forever Is Now” is written from the top to lower centre of the cover in large white caps. The author’s name “Mariama J. Lockington” is at the bottom of the cover in smaller white caps. /end]

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Content Warning:

• Police Brutality
• Panic Attacks
• Biphobia
• Toxic Relationship
• Drug Use
• Death
• Pandemic/Endemic

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Summary:

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 Stonewall Honor-winning 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.

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Notes:

There is an audiobook.

There is a Kindle version.

This book is written in poetic/lyrical verse.

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Archivist Comments:

Books written in verse are always interesting to me.

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