Young Adult Fiction Emigration & Immigration
Go Home
- Publisher
- Groundwood Books Ltd
- Initial publish date
- Aug 2024
- Category
- Emigration & Immigration, Asian American, Prejudice & Racism
- Recommended Age
- 12 to 18
- Recommended Grade
- 7 to 12
-
eBook
- ISBN
- 9781773069111
- Publish Date
- Aug 2024
- List Price
- $16.99
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
In a world beset by anger and fear, what does it mean to protect one’s home and family?
Olive and Gabe — her older brother’s best friend — are deeply in love. They want nothing more than to make a home and family together, especially after the overdose death of Olive’s brother, Chris. It won’t be easy. Gabe works three jobs, and Olive still needs to finish high school, but their future together feels certain and right.
But when Samir Paudel moves into the house across the street, Olive's and Gabe’s lives are disrupted. The Paudel house is overfull with family and friends, and they play loud music at all hours. Yet Olive is drawn to them, particularly to Samir’s little nephew, Bhim, and his grandfather, Hajurba.
Yet Samir’s very presence seems to awaken in Gabe an intense anger — toward immigrants he believes are taking resources from White Americans — resources that would have saved Chris and his own father, who has lost his job and is now struggling with ill health and alcoholism.
When Olive realizes that Gabe and his family are the source of escalating aggressions toward the Paudels, she no longer recognizes the loyal, loving boy she fell in love with.
Key Text Features
author’s note
alternating narratives/points of view
chapters
About the authors
TERRY FARISH is an author of picture books and young adult novels, many influenced by her trip to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya and work with the Red Cross in Vietnam. The Good Braider won the New Hampshire Literary Award and the Lupine Award. It was also an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a School Library Journal Best Book. Joseph's Big Ride, illustrated by Ken Daley, received a Skipping Stones Honor, and The Cat Who Liked Potato Soup, illustrated by Barry Root, won a Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books Blue Ribbon. Terry lives in Kittery, Maine.
LOCHAN SHARMA was born in Nepal. His family was registered at Timai refugee camp after they were exiled from Bhutan. Lochan and his family moved to the US in 2009 and now live in Concord, New Hampshire. He is a student at Keene State College.
Excerpt: Go Home (by (author) Terry Farish & Lochan Sharma)
After she cried out, things happened so fast. Maybe Samir turned. Or maybe Gabe showed up beside him.
That’s when she heard Gabe yelling at the kid. “You got no right to be in this place. This is our beach. This is my friend’s beach. Get the fuck out of my sight.” The boy looked confused and didn’t move. He only had the river behind him and Gabe in front of him.
Gabe shoved the boy’s chest. “Are you deaf? Fucking get away from here! Go home.”
The boy nearly fell back, and that made him flail toward the surf just before he caught his balance. Then he stumbled around Gabe. And in the stumbling, he shoved Gabe’s shoulder. The move had been so quick that Olive couldn’t tell if he only reached out to keep from falling into the water, or if it was a smooth up-yours right back.
On the beach he fled fast as a wild horse. He leapt over trees downed by the tide and rising high water.
But almost before Gabe turned from his rage, the kid was part of the gray trees in the distance.
Editorial Reviews
The interplay between [Olive and Samir] is quietly absorbing ... Meaty and complex.
Kirkus Reviews
Farish and Sharma bring important current social issues to light in Go Home which is exciting, engaging and well worth the read.
CM: Canadian Review of Materials
A powerful novel. ... This book is an in-depth look at real life factions across the country and can serve to generate awareness of a serious problem.
The International Educator Blog
