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In My Head
With his dad in prison for murder, 15-year-old Jericho becomes the man of the house for his mom and three sisters, doing whatever it takes to safeguard and provide for them.
In the menacing streets of Chicago, fighting for a better future sometimes means choosing between life or death. With a single act of violence, Jericho's life takes a drastic turn, leaving him questioning his own existence.
Now he has a desperate choice to make. Walk away or revenge. One choice will lead to certain death. The other to freedom. But freedom is never without consequences. And death is sometimes a blessing.
In the menacing streets of Chicago, fighting for a better future sometimes means choosing between life or death. With a single act of violence, Jericho's life takes a drastic turn, leaving him questioning his own existence.
Now he has a desperate choice to make. Walk away or revenge. One choice will lead to certain death. The other to freedom. But freedom is never without consequences. And death is sometimes a blessing.
326 pages, Paperback
Published May 13, 2023
14 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 1, 2024
Jericho is just a young boy trying to make it through the day. He has experienced more tragedy in his young life than most adults have. His guilt over the events of his life try to bring him down. He experienced loss, fear, depression, suicidal thoughts, and a pain that seems almost unbearable. But he perseveres because he has people in his life who care.
Rayona Lovely Wilson’s incredible story “In My Head” will have you smiling, crying and even breathless at times. Her unique writing style brings Jericho’s story to life in ways that are incredible.
This page turner will have you wanting more with each chapter. It is fast paced and transitions smoothly. Definitely a five star read!
Rayona Lovely Wilson’s incredible story “In My Head” will have you smiling, crying and even breathless at times. Her unique writing style brings Jericho’s story to life in ways that are incredible.
This page turner will have you wanting more with each chapter. It is fast paced and transitions smoothly. Definitely a five star read!
August 9, 2023
When Rayona writes a book,it isn't just for herself. She thinks of her readers,community and she reaches such an audience.
This book was a complete page turner,it is no walk in the park. Here we follow teenage Jericho,who is forced to become the parent figure. He learns to take care of his family by any means.
Rayona has written a book so intense,and immersed that you cannot help but continue to turn the page to find out what happens next.
This book was a complete page turner,it is no walk in the park. Here we follow teenage Jericho,who is forced to become the parent figure. He learns to take care of his family by any means.
Rayona has written a book so intense,and immersed that you cannot help but continue to turn the page to find out what happens next.
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December 28, 2023if you're wanting a good story that's going to take you on a roller coaster of emotions, this is your book
June 30, 2023
Really good book! Easy read! Made me cry so much. Would definitely recommend giving it a read. Love the writing style!
July 30, 2023
Grab a tissue box. 🤧
June 25, 2023
Wow. What a story. Thank you to the author, Rayona Lovely Wilson, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jericho is high school freshman in Chicago. He helps his working, single mom pay the bills. His dad is in jail for another 20ish years, and he has 3 younger sisters he adores.
He puts an incredible amount of responsibility of himself to be the man of the house. Because of that, he sells dope. This brings him into a world with gang violence, fights, and guns.
His life begins a radical downward spiral when a family member fights him in a school bathroom. After that, he’s constantly in a world of violence. In a horrific event, he loses everything and ends up feeling stuck inside his head. He struggles with PTSD, flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety. He also struggles to hide it and the stigma of mental health.
Being a teacher, I saw situations like this. Opened my eyes to things my students have gone through. As someone with PTSD, the description is right on - flashbacks, nightmares, panic attacks. I also know what it’s like to feel like you have to hide it.
The author does a phenomenal job of describing what I’ve seen and heard from my students. While writing like Jericho would probably talk is definitely an adjustment, it set a tone and truly ended up adding to the story.
Jericho’s story is a quick read (I read it in a couple sittings) and will truly give insight to anyone who may not understand what a problem gun violence, trauma, and mental health are, but that there is also hope.
Thank you for bringing Jericho’s world to life, Rayona. It was a beautiful experience.
Jericho is high school freshman in Chicago. He helps his working, single mom pay the bills. His dad is in jail for another 20ish years, and he has 3 younger sisters he adores.
He puts an incredible amount of responsibility of himself to be the man of the house. Because of that, he sells dope. This brings him into a world with gang violence, fights, and guns.
His life begins a radical downward spiral when a family member fights him in a school bathroom. After that, he’s constantly in a world of violence. In a horrific event, he loses everything and ends up feeling stuck inside his head. He struggles with PTSD, flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety. He also struggles to hide it and the stigma of mental health.
Being a teacher, I saw situations like this. Opened my eyes to things my students have gone through. As someone with PTSD, the description is right on - flashbacks, nightmares, panic attacks. I also know what it’s like to feel like you have to hide it.
The author does a phenomenal job of describing what I’ve seen and heard from my students. While writing like Jericho would probably talk is definitely an adjustment, it set a tone and truly ended up adding to the story.
Jericho’s story is a quick read (I read it in a couple sittings) and will truly give insight to anyone who may not understand what a problem gun violence, trauma, and mental health are, but that there is also hope.
Thank you for bringing Jericho’s world to life, Rayona. It was a beautiful experience.
July 13, 2023
Thanks to the author, Rayona Lovely Wilson for allowing me to be part of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A story about a young man named Jericho who has endured a life of trauma and gang violence. His father is in prison and his best friend, mother and 3 sisters were all shot in front of him.
The trauma has caused him to become mute, and he moved to another town to live with his aunt, uncle and cousins. Jericho is angry and wants nothing more than to see his family again, even it means ending his own life.
Struggling from depression and suicide attempts, he sees a therapist who helps him recover from the trauma he has endured.
A remarkable story of perseverance, healing and never giving up.
I had a difficult time with the writing style at first. It's written in a poetic way and there are some grammer mishaps that frustrated me throughout the book. I struggled really connecting with the main character, however I did connect with his aunt and uncle who took Jericho in and loved him until he was able to live himself again. The story itself was great.
A story about a young man named Jericho who has endured a life of trauma and gang violence. His father is in prison and his best friend, mother and 3 sisters were all shot in front of him.
The trauma has caused him to become mute, and he moved to another town to live with his aunt, uncle and cousins. Jericho is angry and wants nothing more than to see his family again, even it means ending his own life.
Struggling from depression and suicide attempts, he sees a therapist who helps him recover from the trauma he has endured.
A remarkable story of perseverance, healing and never giving up.
I had a difficult time with the writing style at first. It's written in a poetic way and there are some grammer mishaps that frustrated me throughout the book. I struggled really connecting with the main character, however I did connect with his aunt and uncle who took Jericho in and loved him until he was able to live himself again. The story itself was great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2023
I had to take a star off for some technical errors here and there. Nothing too bad, and a lot of it can be excused by being told from the pov of a 15yo. The style of writing, more like prose than a the traditional paragraphs I'm used to, took a little bit to get used to, but by the second chapter I was over the confusion.
The story itself is an emotional freight train. From the first sentence to the last, so many gut wrenching emotions. So real, and so heavy. I'm going to have to read a little golden book or 12 after this just to readjust myself. And I know that, while this book is fiction, it's still very much real, and children (and adults) go through similar things way too often.
Overall, I'm very glad I read this book, and will pass it on to my own teenagers to read and discuss. We're very privileged in our lives, I'm not always sure they appreciate it.
The story itself is an emotional freight train. From the first sentence to the last, so many gut wrenching emotions. So real, and so heavy. I'm going to have to read a little golden book or 12 after this just to readjust myself. And I know that, while this book is fiction, it's still very much real, and children (and adults) go through similar things way too often.
Overall, I'm very glad I read this book, and will pass it on to my own teenagers to read and discuss. We're very privileged in our lives, I'm not always sure they appreciate it.
June 25, 2023
In My head by Rayona Lovely Wilson is a brilliant page turner and a thought provoking read.
I was hooked from the very first page. Rayona's writing is beautiful and deals with any sensitive issues with care.
A truly beautiful book that I highly recommend.
I received a free arc e book copy of the book from the author in exchange for a honest review.
I was hooked from the very first page. Rayona's writing is beautiful and deals with any sensitive issues with care.
A truly beautiful book that I highly recommend.
I received a free arc e book copy of the book from the author in exchange for a honest review.
February 27, 2024
couldn’t put it down!
I read this book in a 12 hour shift at work. It drew me in from the beginnings and wouldn’t let me go. The author knows how to make you become invested with her main character! This is a phenomenal book about struggle, adversity, growth, overcoming, and the long process of healing.
I read this book in a 12 hour shift at work. It drew me in from the beginnings and wouldn’t let me go. The author knows how to make you become invested with her main character! This is a phenomenal book about struggle, adversity, growth, overcoming, and the long process of healing.
December 14, 2025
When I started In My Head, I was unsure about whether I would like it or if it would just be another amateur book about the “hood”.
However, as the story developed I found myself growing emotional over the developing story and Jericho’s pain and struggle through his survivors guilt.
His struggle and depression was beautifully conveyed and in the end my perception of the book and author had completely changed.
However, as the story developed I found myself growing emotional over the developing story and Jericho’s pain and struggle through his survivors guilt.
His struggle and depression was beautifully conveyed and in the end my perception of the book and author had completely changed.
June 25, 2023
It was ok. To me it seemed hard to relate to and at times hard to read. I don't normally read these kinds of books.
November 16, 2024
My Heart
The feelings one can only feel when reading this can be overwhelming. One cannot not feel with so much loss. Tugs at the heart. A great story!!!
The feelings one can only feel when reading this can be overwhelming. One cannot not feel with so much loss. Tugs at the heart. A great story!!!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews