Go home

In a rural community plagued by racism, young neighbors forge an unexpected friendship. A new family has moved in across the street from 16-year-old Olive and her mom. Olive recognizes the boy, Samir, from English class. After being deported from Bhutan and living in a refugee camp, Samir and his family have settled in coastal New Hampshire, where they plan to open a Nepali restaurant, a unique contribution to the predominantly white community. Olive's boyfriend, Gabe, who's influenced by his white supremacist family's harsh anti-immigration stance, blames immigrants for taking jobs from Americans and smuggling fentanyl into the country. Olive is deeply in love with Gabe despite his racism and aggression, but she begins to question their relationship when Gabe targets Samir with physical violence and verbal abuse, taunting him to "go home." After someone throws a brick through Samir's window, Olive wonders whether Gabe is involved. And as the racist attacks against Samir and his family intensify, Olive's forced to reevaluate her future with Gabe in a compelling character arc. Readers follow the leads through alternating third-person chapters as their stories gradually unfold, until their voices converge in a final chapter headed "Samir and Olive." The teens discover a deep connection through warm moments, such as Olive's teaching Samir to swim. The interplay between the new friends, who are united by dreams of a better life, is quietly absorbing. Meaty and complex; a slow-paced, character-driven tale. (historical note, authors' notes) (Fiction. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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. Excerpted from Go Home by Terry Farish, Lochan Sharma All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.