Evette: The River and Me

Washington D.C. – 2021
Author Sharon Dennis Wyeth
Illustrator Olivia Duchess
Originally Published © 2021 American Girl
ISBN 9781683371854
 

Essential

Evette and Bud are getting ready to go to school on the first day back after a year of learning remotely due to the COVID pandemic. She is excited to see her best friend Ashlyn again.

Evette’s grandmother, Gran E, spent a lot of time with Evette and Bud through the pandemic, where they would work in the garden, bake bread, play board games, and do arts and crafts. Gran E is the one who initially taught Evette how to sew so she could upcycle her own clothes! Her other grandparents, Grandma and Grandpa Peeters live nearby, but they haven’t seen each other in a long time due to Grandpa Peeters’ health issues. Grandma Peeters wrote a beautiful calligraphy letter to Evette saying no matter how far apart they are, Evette is always in her heart. She also sent a lovely heart necklace.

When Evette arrives at school, she learns that Ashlyn has shaved half her head and dyed her hair pink. She has made two new friends, Ziggy and Gia. Ziggy asks Evette whether she is Black or White, which offends her. Although Ashlyn says she still wants to be friends with Evette, Evette feels pushed out by Ashlyn’s new friendships.

 

Sunflowers

After school, Evette and Bud are picked up by Gran E. They all drive back to Gran E’s home on the other side of the Anacostia River. They plan to stop by the house to get some vegetables, and then head over to the Riverfront Community Center food pantry. Evette runs upstairs to grab a butterfly scarf to send a photo to Makena, who she only knows from online.

As Evette passes by a photo of Grandpa Paul, who passed away before Evette was born, she heads into Gran E’s closet. She discovers a bright yellow one-piece swimsuit, covered with sunflowers. She excitedly brings the swimsuit back down to show Bud and Gran E. Gran E tells Evette that when she was little, she tried to go swimming in a public pool. But a few White children told her she wasn’t welcome because she was Black. When Bud and Evette invite Gran E over to Grandma and Grandpa Peeters’ house to go swimming, she says grumpily that she wouldn’t go swimming in their pool if someone paid her.

Evette doesn’t push Gran E with questions, and instead they pick out a nice bouquet to bring to the Riverfront Community Center.

 

Makena and Maritza

On the drive to the community center, Gran E tells Evette and Bud about the swimming hole she used to swim in. It was a stream that led into the Anacostia River.

Once at the community center, Evette goes in search of a vase for the flowers. She ends up looking around a room at the end of a corridor when a girl in a soccer uniform comes in. She introduces herself as Maritza. They connect over Mexican weather and food. On their way back to the lobby, they stop at an art piece. Makena turns up behind them, and recognizes Evette due to her unique upcycled shoes. When Evette explains upcycling, Makena and Maritza both agree that going thrift shopping with Evette could be fun, and they make plans to talk more later.

 

None of My Business

Dad picks up Bud and Evette late due to a flat tire. But once they’re home, Evette’s mom talks to Evette about meeting Makena and Maritza, and explains that while it can be a great opportunity to make new friends, she can’t forget that her old friendship with Ashlyn has lots of history.

As Evette glances at the umoja (unity) necklace Gran E got for her, she asks her mother about Gran E’s relationship with Grandma and Grandpa Peeters. Her mom explains that something happened between them long ago, but it was best not to pull it back up again, saying it was ancient history and none of Evette’s business.

 

Things in the Past

Dad takes Evette to school in the truck, where they stop by Stan’s Garage to get an update on his tire. On the way, Dad explains to Evette that it’s best to leave Gran E and Grandma Peeters’ argument well enough alone—perhaps they don’t want Evette to know the history between them.

Dad explains that Stan struggled to keep his garage open throughout the pandemic, but he’s a good mechanic, so Dad is happy Stan is still open.

 

A Sight to Behold

Gran E takes Bud and Evette on a little road trip to find the swimming hole. She explains that her brother showed Gran E the swimming hole when she was a child so that she could have a private place to swim… away from the racism at the public pool. It was beautiful when Gran E used to swim there.

But when Evette and her family arrive, they’re dismayed to find a polluted mess of trash, abandoned furniture, and old tires. Gran E is so disappointed that just wants to leave right away. Evette realizes that something must change.

 

Cannonball

That weekend, Evette’s family arrives at Grandma and Grandpa Peeters’ house to go swimming for the first time in over a year! Evette takes the opportunity to ask Grandma Peeters what happened between her and Gran E. Grandma Peeters explains that back when Evette’s parents were planning their wedding, she made a few racist comments about Gran E’s neighborhood, house, and community. Although Grandma Peeters now knows that what she said was wrong, she hasn’t yet apologized to Gran E for fear of stirring things up again.

 

It’s Personal

Evette goes back to the Riverfront Community Center to meet up with Maritza and Makena. They all talk about their issues with racism and family, agreeing that they should try to find a way for Evette’s grandparents to talk again.

While Evette goes to the water fountain, she sees a sign advertising help to restore the river. Evette calls the number on the sign, and a man named Kasey answers and tells her to gather her friends and family, and they’ll clean the river up!

She posts about the river cleanup on social media and makes flyers for school. Ashlyn sees the flyers and offers her, Ziggy, and Gia’s help. Evette also encourages her grandparents to come, hoping that this could be an opportunity for them to reconnect.

 

Clean Water Action

On the day of the river cleanup, Evette, her family, Maritza, and Makena meet at the swimming hole. Kasey comes to help with some of his friends, too. Ashlyn, Ziggy, and Gia arrive as well.

Kasey explains that getting rid of large trash like furniture and tires isn’t free, so people dump things in areas where people aren’t looking, which is environmental discrimination, since most of that happens in Black neighborhoods.

Although lots of people came out, Gran E isn’t one of them. But by the end of the day, the whole area is cleaned up.

 

A World by Us

The next day, Evette, Makena, and Maritza get together at the Riverfront Community Center. They revel in how much impact a small group can make to the world when they’re working together. They decide to start a website centered about impacts they’re making to strengthen the community… called World by Us.

 

The Unity Promise

At school, Evette decides to sit with Ashlyn and her new friends. She finds that Gia and Ziggy are actually really friendly, and they bond over the grossest thing they cleaned up at the river. Ziggy wins with a dead possum!

After school, Evette and Gran E drive down to the swimming hole where she wants to show it all cleaned up to Gran E. But when they get there, they find Grandma Peeters is sitting waiting. Grandma Peeters apologies to Gran E, who admits it has been a long time to hold a grudge. They bond over picnic cakes, knitting, and a cleaner environment.

On their way back to the car, Evette finds Stan dumping old tires! Evette tries to tell Stan not to dump the tires, but he just walks away, asking Evette not to report him.

Back at home, Evette’s parents tell her she should call him and ask him to bring the tires to the Riverfront Community Center instead.

 

Step Two: Paint and Marigolds

Evette, Makena, and Maritza get together to upcycle the tires. They end up painting the tires, and adding potted marigolds to the insides, to create colorful planters. They quickly start selling out. When Stan sees how beautiful they are, he decides to sell the last two at his shop, and says he will always bring future old tires to Evette to paint instead of dumping them in the river.

 

Real Kids, Real Change

Evette is a fictional character, but there are real kids out there who are making big environmental impacts in their community. Take Jocelyn C, Danny C, and Sofia R. They realized that their school was throwing away a lot of plastic silverware. They asked their principal if they could switch to reusable silverware to help the environment, and their principal said if they could educate the students how to reduce waste and keep reusable utensils out of the trash, they’d consider it.

They created posters and lesson plans all about reducing plastic waste, in both Spanish and English! When the cafeteria finally switched to reusable silverware, every fifth-grader volunteered to monitor the trash and remind students to put the silverware in the right place.

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