I was very excited about a few of the components of the premise of Home Home, especially the discussion about teen mental health and the portrayal of a Trinidadian immigrant in Canada. I have purchased this book for my library simply because there are not enough representations of these two aspects of teen life and I am always looking for me. I think teens who happen to be seeking a story about one of these specific elements may find something in this book, but I think most of my students will find the narrative too slow and too specific for their recreational reading tastes. There are other books in my library that might represent these ideas and offer a more compelling story for them.

This story is about a teenager struggling with her mental health. It really is important for young adults who also experience these things to see them reflected in stories. I wish I had this when I was younger.

The intent of this book is clear without saying anything outright. The author talks around topics and leaves us to draw the appropriate conclusions. We're looking at cultural divides, views of mental-illness, colorism. It moves slowly which will be a stumbling block for some. More of a thinker.

This is a story that provides insight to a teenager struggling with anxiety and depression (and a mother who doesn't believe it's a real thing - which is also way too common) - would definitely preface that in providing to students; especially with a potential trigger of the overdosing, but overall I think it's a great YA addition to middle school/high school classes.

Simple and striking, Home Home dives deep into what it's like to live with mental illness on top of adolescence, cultural expectations, racism, xenophobia, homophobia, and more. While some of the dialogue felt out of touch on the part of our teenagers, the overall message about family, support, and unconditional love shone.

Home Home is a gripping story of family, mental health, and love. Kayla is sent to Canada from Trinidad after facing mental health challenges that her mother cannot make sense of. Kayla perseveres through the expected cross-cultural challenges, her own homophobia, and health challenges to build a new life in Canada with her lesbian aunt and her partner. What I enjoyed most about this story is the exploration of family and conventional notions of love and care. Though her mother sends her away, the reader is able to find some compassion for her decision by the end of the book. Kayla finds new definitions of familial love through her relationship with her aunt which allows her to feel wanted and gives her a sense of security and belonging. The story is a little short for all of the issues it touches on but is nonetheless a quick, good read that will likely resonate with teenagers.

***I received a digital review copy of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a touching coming of age story of a young girl who finally feels love and acceptance from her aunt and her wife in Canada. She develops friendships and the freedom to be herself.

A very short but impactful read. I enjoyed reading about a theme we don’t explore a lot in the Caribbean context and that is mental illness. I think the author did an amazing job of making this theme the forefront of the novel. I also loved the exploration of the mother-daughter theme- I thought more could have gone into this but I was impressed with what I read.
A short but relevant read.

I am reviewing this book as part of the Notable Books for a Global Society Committee. As we have not yet met as a committee on this title, it would not be appropriate for me to make personal comments at this time.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of HOME HOME by Lisa Allen-Agostini in exchange for my honest review.

This story is a quick pick (i.e.under 100 pages) that deals with mental health issues. Kayla is a 14 year old girl who has been sent from Trinidad to Canada to live with her Aunt (and her Aunt’s life partner) after a recent suicide attempt. Her Aunt extends an invitation to make Edmonton her permanent residence, but Kayla is apprehensive because it just doesn’t feel like home home (I.e. Trinidad). This story will appeal to reluctant readers who may be struggling with their own mental health issues.

With a title like HOME HOME I initially thought that this would be a typical coming-of-age story featuring an immigrant teen, There’s certainly a lot of discussion regarding belonging; the MC is a Trinidadian teen temporarily living with her queer aunts in Edmonton. She’s still unsure about fitting in, or going back “home home”—who can’t relate to that? I was pleasantly surprised by Allen-Agostini’s added focus on mental health, in the sense that there are still few YA titles with MCs of colour and/or immigrant background speaking plainly about these challenges. The descriptions in the story are quite raw, and may be triggering for some readers. For others, they may also provide solace.

This book was really good, this showed how people being put in different countries don’t feel like home but the character had to get used to living there

As we near the beginning of Pride Month and Caribbean Heritage Month! Here's a YA book that infuses both into the main characters of the book. Kayla is a teen getting accustomed to moving from Trinidad to Canada two weeks after a hospital stay. Her Mother sends her to live with her Aunt Jillian and her Aunt's partner Julie.

Such a big life event would seem like a rough transition, but she has one best friend from Home, Home (Trinidad) to support her along the journey.

I enjoyed the loving and supportive relationship that her Aunt and her Aunt's partner provide throughout the book. They provide the nurturing spirit she needs. The protagonist will experience a nervous breakdown, panic attacks, and take the reader back to the day she was in the hospital after her suicide attempt.

The story is a glimpse into a mind dealing with self-hate. The book does give perspectives to the stigma around mental health especially as it pertains to a teenager trying to speak their truth.

There is a love interest, but that relationship doesn't really get fleshed out. I think that was the hardest part from the book. I wanted a little more from the scenes, more of her interacting with peers, or maybe more dialogue to balance her self talk. Overall, it was a quick read that did keep me engaged.

I do recognize I'm an adult, and I'm not the exact target audience for the book.

Home Home touched on many issues that are difficult to talk about but are no less relevant than other issues. The main character was insightful into how a person with her illness feels and thinks and sees the world around them. I thought this to be a book worth the read.

Short, but filled with the character development that one would expect from a book twice its length, Home Home follows 14 year old Kayla in her journey to recovery from clinical depression in Canada. Filled with vivid descriptions of Kayla's "home home" Trinidad, in depth exploration of feelings associated with lack of parental love and consequential low self esteem, this book also lays a stark contrast with the depiction of unconditional love and acceptance. A lovely read; I would recommend it not only to Young Adults, but to their parents as well.

AMAZING!! Kayla's moved from Trinidad to Canada with her aunt after a depressive episode and suicide attempt. She's experiencing debilitating anxiety and self loathing, making trips to the mall or a restaurant almost impossible. Her aunt and her aunt's girlfriend are very understanding and patient which makes a huge difference in Kayla's recovery. In therapy and her journal, she writes about the difficult relationship she has with mother who wants her to be smart and pretty, not sick. It also helps when she befriends good-natured boy named Josh who understands depression. His understanding along with her aunts' acceptance helps Kayla come to terms with her illness. Her story feels honest, relatable, and important.

This was a very thoughtful book. I loved the character development, really connected with the main character. It was a quiet read, but full of heart.

I really liked "Home Home"! Lisa Allen-Agostini explored many challenging topics like suicide, depression, anxiety, identity and acceptance. I felt that I really got to know Kayla as she dealt with everything. Kayla is a 14-year-old girl from Trinidad who is sent to live with her lesbian aunts in Edmonton, Alberta after a suicide attempt. With their support and a new friendship, Kayla learns to advocate and take care of herself. I commend the author for tackling these important issues, i think many teens/tweens deal with these things but don't know how to ask for help. I liked that they might be able to see themselves through this story. I did feel the pace of the story was a bit too slow and may not capture the attention of the middle grade audience. That being said, I do plan on including this book in our library because it has many strong points and Kayla has many qualities that middle grade can identify with and benefit from reading her experiences.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for providing an ARC.

absolutely astonishing. IK couldn't put it down. I loved the characters and their development. The writing was spectacular and I absolutely enjoyed the story

Lisa Allen-Agostini doesn't shy away from exploring challenging topics like suicide, depression, anxiety, identity and acceptance. Kayla is a 14-year-old girl from Trinidad who is sent to live with her lesbian aunts in Edmonton, Alberta. With the support of her aunts and a new friendship, Kayla learns to advocate herself. I commend the author for tackling these important issues, but felt the pace of the story was too slow and may not capture the attention of my MG students. That being said, I do plan on including this book in the school library because it has many strong points and there are some children that may identify with Kayla and benefit from reading her experiences.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for providing an ARC.