Make Good Trouble

Posted on January 10, 2026January 10, 2026 by Valorie Grace Hallinan

make room for wonder….

Renee Nicole Good, “On Learning to Dissect Fetal Pigs,” American Academy of Poets Prize Winner, 2020

Renee sparkled. She literally sparkled. I mean, she didn’t wear glitter but I swear she had sparkles coming out of her pores. All the time. You might think it was just my love talking but her family said the same thing. Renee was made of sunshine.

Renee lived by an overarching belief: there is kindness in the world and we need to do everything we can to find it where it resides and nurture it where it needs to grow. – Becca Good

Published by Valorie Grace Hallinan

Writer, blogger at Books Can Save a Life, about the healing and enriching power of books. At work on a memoir about growing up with a mother who is mentally ill. A former book editor and medical librarian, my work has been published in Great Lakes Review, Library Journal, and other publications. View all posts by Valorie Grace Hallinan

4 thoughts on “Make Good Trouble”

Giuseppe SANSONE January 10, 20262:44 pm Reply

Ciao valory, wonderful

Inviato da Outlook per Androidhttps://aka.ms/AAb9ysg ________________________________
1. Valorie Grace Hallinan January 10, 20263:52 pm Reply
  
  Grazie, Pino. Speriamo di vederti nel 2026. Tanto amore.
Stefanie January 10, 202612:23 pm Reply

Thank you Valorie! We are so heartbroken here in Minneapolis. My husband and I are preparing to go to an ICE out for Good rally this afternoon at the park near where Renee was murdered. There will be thousands of people there. It will be healing to grieve with my community.
1. Valorie Grace Hallinan January 10, 20263:50 pm Reply
  
  I am not at all surprised you are going. I know you will have thousands. We just returned from a protest in Carrboro, NC and it was a huge turnout, with vigils and other protests planned around the state. Thinking of all of you there.