Fans of Netflix's On My Block and readers of Elizabeth Acevedo and Angie Thomas will love this debut novel about a girl whose life is turned upside down after one local act of vandalism throws both her relationships and neighborhood into turmoil.Chinelo, or Nelo as her best friend Kate calls her, is all about her neighborhood Ginger East. She loves its chill vibe, ride-or-die sense of community, and the memories she has growing up there with her friends. Ginger East isn't what it used to be though. After a deadly incident at the local arcade, most of her friends' families moved away. Kate, whose family owns the local corner store, is still there and as long as that stays constant, Nelo's good.
When Kate's parent's store is vandalized and the vandal still at large, Nelo is shaken to her core. And then the police and the media get involved and more of the outside world descends upon Ginger East with promises to "fix the neighborhood." Suddenly, Nelo finds herself in the middle of a drama unfolding on a national scale.
Worse yet, Kate is acting strange. She's pushing Nelo away at the exact moment they need each other most. Now Nelo's entire world is morphing into something she hates and she must figure out how to get things back on track or risk losing everything--and everyone--she loves.
“A
fierce main character, an
enthralling mystery, and
a cause to root for. Like Home is a
stirring coming-of-age story set in the midst of gentrification and a community on edge.” —Namina Forna,
New York Times bestselling author of
The Gilded Ones “A
phenomenal coming-of-age story that centers on Black girlhood, the not-so-subtle violence of gentrification, and friendship. Louisa Onomé presents us with a
compelling and
beautifully written tale about love and loss.” —Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, author of
Ace of Spades “
Brimming with charm and heart,
Like Home is a
powerful commentary on gentrification,
perfect for anyone who’s ever loved a place so much it felt like family.” —Roseanne A. Brown,
New York Times and Indie bestselling author of
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin ★ "The
effortless diversity of the cast is a
model for fiction. Light and serious, playful and real, this is
a debut not to be missed." —
Kirkus Reviews,
starred review★ "A
touching coming-of-age story,
highly recommended for audiences looking for titles like Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give and Nic Stone’s Dear Martin.
A must-have." —
SLJ,
starred review “Louisa Onome’s
Like Home is a
poignant debut filled with
exquisite prose, a dash of mystery, and most importantly, a
whole lot of heart. You’ll be thinking about Nelo and her friends long after the last page, and you’ll fall so in love with Ginger East that you’ll want to step right into the neighborhood.
I highly recommend this read!” —June Hur, author of
The Silence of Bones
"
Evocative and
gratifyingly immersive,
Like Home brings the idea of community to
brilliant life. With expertly-drawn characters and a setting so alive it becomes another character we root for, Louisa Onome has written a
celebration of the human capacity to find and re-find home." —S.K. Ali, author of
Saints and Misfits “This moment needs this book—a
stirring,
vivid,
achingly true love song to activism, friendship, culture, neighborhood, and community. Louisa Onomé is a
bright new star in YA.” —Jeff Zentner, Morris Award–winning author of
The Serpent King and
Goodbye Days"Chinelo’s unwavering devotion and hope for her hometown drive this debut; Onomé delves into
the meaning of home and the
negative impacts of redevelopment.”
—Publishers Weekly