“This book is vibrant and alive. The teens and the community come alive as they rally save their neighborhood from gentrification and eviction. Rhea and her friends are so vividly drawn, one can’t help but root for the community to rise.”
— Audrey Huang, Belmont Books, Belmont, MA
Description
Now in paperback!
A raised fist against the destructive forces of gentrification and a love letter to communities of color everywhere, Jade Adia's unforgettable debut tells the darkly hilarious story perfect for fans of Angie Thomas, Nicola Yoon, and Jason Reynolds
The gang is fake, but the fear is real.
Rhea’s neighborhood is fading away—the mom-and-pop shops of her childhood forced out to make space for an artisanal kombucha brewery here, a hot yoga studio there. And everywhere, the feeling that this place is no longer meant for her. Because while their little corner of South L.A. isn’t perfect, to Rhea and her two best friends, it’s something even more important—it’s home. And it’s worth protecting.
But as more white people flock to their latest edgy, urban paradise for its cheap rent and sparkling new Whole Foods, more of Rhea’s friends and family are pushed out. Until Rhea decides it’s time to push back. Armed with their cellphones and a bag of firecrackers, the friends manipulate social media to create the illusion of gang violence in their neighborhood. All Rhea wanted to do was protect her community. Her friends. Herself. No one was supposed to get hurt. No one was supposed to die.
But is anyone ever really safe when you’re fighting power with fear?
About the Author
Born and raised in South LA, Jade Adia writes stories about gentrification, Black teen joy, and the sh*tshow that is capitalism. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Ethnicity, Race & Migration and recently survived law school, graduating with a specialization in Critical Race Studies. There Goes The Neighborhood is her debut novel. Find her online at www.jadeadia.com and on Instagram @jadeadia.
“This book is vibrant and alive. The teens and the community come alive as they rally save their neighborhood from gentrification and eviction. Rhea and her friends are so vividly drawn, one can’t help but root for the community to rise.”