A poignant and incandescent debut that explores thebonds of community and what it really means to change
Chinelo—or Nelo, as her best friend, Kate, calls her—is all about her neighbourhood, Ginger East. She loves its chill vibe, its ride-or-die sense of community and the memories she has of growing up there. Ginger East isn’t what it used to be, though. After a deadly incident at the local arcade, most of Nelo’s friends, except for Kate, have moved away. But as long as the two girls have each other, Nelo’s good.
Then Kate’s parents’ corner store is vandalized, leaving Nelo shaken to her core. The police and the media are quick to point fingers, and soon more of the outside world descends upon Ginger East with promises to “fix the neighbourhood.” Suddenly, Nelo finds herself in the middle of a drama that is unfolding on a national scale.
Worse yet, Kate has begun acting strange. She’s pushing Nelo away at the exact time they need each other most. 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.
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Chinelo—or Nelo, as her best friend, Kate, calls her—is all about her neighbourhood, Ginger East. She loves its chill vibe, its ride-or-die sense of community and the memories she has of growing up there. Ginger East isn’t what it used to be, though. After a deadly incident at the local arcade, most of Nelo’s friends, except for Kate, have moved away. But as long as the two girls have each other, Nelo’s good.
Then Kate’s parents’ corner store is vandalized, leaving Nelo shaken to her core. The police and the media are quick to point fingers, and soon more of the outside world descends upon Ginger East with promises to “fix the neighbourhood.” Suddenly, Nelo finds herself in the middle of a drama that is unfolding on a national scale.
Worse yet, Kate has begun acting strange. She’s pushing Nelo away at the exact time they need each other most. 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.
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Praise for this book
"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
"Louisa Onomé's YA novel is for readers who can relate to the overwhelming feelings of change all around us. For Nelo, everything is changing. Her neighbourhood, her relationships and the way boys are looking at her. But Nelo's unbeatable spirit is what will get her through turbulent times and will have readers cheering her on to the very last page." - Catherine Hernandez
"With this debut, Like Home, Louisa Onomé rightfully emerges as a writer worth watching. Chinelo is a fierce, young protagonist with an unshakeable sense of community. She's a powerful heroine in a timely story that young people need right now -- a story about an ordinary teen whose integrity and courage transform the world around her and the place she calls home. It's a story I wish I'd read when I was in school, and I can't wait to see what Louisa does next." - Jael Richardson
"Louisa Onomé's YA novel is for readers who can relate to the overwhelming feelings of change all around us. For Nelo, everything is changing. Her neighbourhood, her relationships and the way boys are looking at her. But Nelo's unbeatable spirit is what will get her through turbulent times and will have readers cheering her on to the very last page." - Catherine Hernandez
"With this debut, Like Home, Louisa Onomé rightfully emerges as a writer worth watching. Chinelo is a fierce, young protagonist with an unshakeable sense of community. She's a powerful heroine in a timely story that young people need right now -- a story about an ordinary teen whose integrity and courage transform the world around her and the place she calls home. It's a story I wish I'd read when I was in school, and I can't wait to see what Louisa does next." - Jael Richardson
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