No Place Like Home

by James Bird, Calvin Joyal (narrator)

A middle-grade novel by James Bird about homelessness and hope.

When home is a car, life is unpredictable. School, friends, and three meals a day aren't guaranteed. Not every town has a shelter where a family can sleep for a night or two, and places with parking lots don't welcome overnight stays.

Opin, his brother Emjay, and their mother are trying to get to Los Angeles, where they hope an uncle and a new life are waiting. Emjay has taken to disappearing for days, slowing down the family's progress and adding to their worry.

Then Opin finds a stray dog who needs him as much as he needs her, and his longing for a stable home intensifies, as his brother's reckless ways hit a new high. Opin makes a new friend in the shelter, but shelters don’t allow dogs…

Will anything other than a real home ever be enough?

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Family, Childrens, Audiobook, Juvenile

Audio CD

First published August 8, 2023

About the author

There is more than one author in the Goodreads catalog with this name. This entry is for James ^2 Bird.

James Bird is a screenwriter and director at the independent film company, Zombot Pictures; his films include We Are Boats and Honeyglue. A California native of Ojibwe descent, he now lives in Swampscott, Massachusetts with his wife, the author and actor Adriana Mather, and their son. The Brave is his debut novel.

Reviews

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Wow.
A very well-written story, but one that’s tough to read. The realities of homelessness are brought to light through the eyes and voice of young Opin. He, his mother and older brother have been living a hand-to-mouth existence for years. At first, the two children just accepted their lives the way they were, not knowing any different. Now Emjay is a moody, angry teenager, whose way of handling his disappointing life is to lash out at everyone and everything. And Opin now knows that he wants something different and better for himself than this nomadic lifestyle, and always having to watch over his shoulder for trouble…
I will never look at homeless people the same way again. Opin, his mom, and even his hateful brother are characters that you will root for as you read, and they will stay with you for a long time after finishing.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unimaginable. Unpredictable. Unthinkable. Unforgettable.
🚗
Opin lives in a car with his mom and angry older brother. Most days Opin and his mom have to scrape and hustle to make enough money for gas, food and sometimes a shower, if they’re lucky. Unfortunately they’re rarely lucky. While Opin and his mom find the fun in the adventure on the open road, Opin’s brother, MJ, is openly defiant, willful and is constantly fighting with their mom, disappearing for hours, sometimes days on end. When Opin finds a dog and names it Ani, he finally has a friend he can keep, but sometimes hope can be a scary thing.
🚗
I can’t even count the amount of times this story broke me. What a difficult but necessary and important read for our upper middle grade readers. This book will (hopefully) create and foster empathy, as well as give kids some perspective. It certainly did for me. @jamesbirdbooks I could see this on many state and national award lists. I literally burst into tears towards the end. I’m so happy we picked this one for September’s book club.

CW: homelessness, food insecurity, poverty, racism, anti-Indigenous history, forced Christian conversation, domestic abuse, mention of MMIW2S, eviction, white power, prostitution (alluded to), alcohol

[Bandana Bookmom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I would give this book a higher rating if it was not a middle grade book. In my opinion, it was a decent read as an adult but it wouldn’t be appropriate for a child to read. Our main character, Opin, is homeless and living with his mom and brother in a car trying to eventually get to an uncle in Southern California. The story immediately pulls you in and you feel sympathy for Opin and the difficult situation he is in. You become quickly invested to know if they are going to make it and no longer be homeless. His mother makes their survival a game/adventure, and I loved their relationship for the most part. However, there is a lot of negativity, abuse, and violence isn’t this book which I didn’t love. Opins brother is disrespectful to their mom and constantly causes harm to Opin with no consequences. Opin and his mother (who are Native American) have very strong feelings that the reasons they are homeless is because they are Native American and Opin believes that “the Calvary is coming for him”. This book has strong anti-police “protect and serve they do not” vibes, anti Christian vibes, anti shelter vibes, anti CPS vibes, anti president vibes… just TONS of negativity. While these topics are all so important for kids to know about and discuss, I felt like this book tried to take on too many of them at once and ended up just feeling angry. The mom also has some late night endeavors that are alluded to as being prostitution or something of that sort which I definitely didn’t feel was appropriate for a children’s book. I did like the ending and as an adult, this book made me think about some of these topics and how it would feel to be a kid in these shoes. I also wish I had read the authors note first because he WAS a kid in these shoes. That makes me feel more empathy for the story but still doesn’t change the fact that I think it could have been done better and more positively for our emerging generation.

[Christine Indorf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opin isn't like any other boy he knows. He lives in a car with his brother and mother and has to lie to get even the basic needs like food and a shower. His mother promises that she will get a job and a home but as time goes on these things doesn't happen. Now his brother keeps running away and when he is around he has a dangerous temper. Opin only friend is a dog he found, can they ever find a place that they can call their own?

I found this story wonderful. Yes, its a hard read but important. Many children suffer from homelessness. Parents want better for their children but many are running way from domestic abuse like Opin and his family. Opin is a complex character that I found so interesting. The character I found most interesting is Emjay, Opin brother. Filled with rage with the situation he finds himself in, he runs or acts violent to his brother and others. Watching this character and the changes he makes, makes this story so interesting and so important for today's middle graders to read. I am so glad I had a chance to read this book before the release date. Now I want to read more from James Bird.

I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read this story. Highly recommend this book for young and for the young at heart!!

[Dee Dee G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some parts of this book was hard to listen to, but it paints a vivid picture of what homelessness can look like.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.

Content notes:

- Homelessness
- Food insecurity
- Poverty
- Fighting/arguing between teen and parent
- Threat of Child Protective Services taking kids
- Mention of anti-Indigenous American history
- Reference to residential schools and forced conversion to Christianity
- Reference to MMIW2S
- Casual ableism (crazy)
- Past domestic abuse
- Eviction (past)
- Racism
- White power group(brief)

This book was rough, but so good and important and such a happy, hopeful ending. Full review closer to release!

Full review:

This is a rough, emotional story, but also a story full of hope and love. Opin is living in a car with his mom and older brother, Emjay, since they left his father several years ago because he was violent and abusive. Emjay has a tendency to run off when they stop places on their way to Watts Los Angeles and is full of anger, which sometimes is expressed in violence and being cruel with his words towards his family. But Opin finds a dog, Ani, one night and it rekindles some hope because having Ani gives him something to protect and keeping moving forward for.

This story broke my heart in so many ways, but I also think this story is so important because there is so much messaging about homelessness and the situation of unhoused people as less than human, from the legislation regarding tent cities to the benches being built so no one can comfortably or safely sleep on them. And homelessness is an experience many have at various times. I can easily see this being a book to helps someone feel seen and validated, all while also offering home.

But this isn’t just a story of struggle. There are so many messages about history and how American government has worked to eliminate Native people and history from this country. It also talks about how even as names of the government entities have changed, their purposes remain the same - keep poor people poor, take Native children from their family and community to assimilate them, vilify people who are working the hardest and getting the least return for their efforts. I really loved the historical mentions and framing, as well as the way it works to show that even as white people have tried to erase Indigenous people, they continue to survive, and that is exactly what Opin and his family are doing - surviving and keeping the blood of their ancestors alive.

I really loved this book, even as I struggled with it at times because it made me confront some of my own privileges and the things I take for granted. But I’m also glad it showed that even when things are hard, there is still hope, family, happy moments that make the hard times even a little easier. Opin is such a great narrator, and seeing his growth over the course of the story was so good. Just, I absolutely think people need to read this book, because this is a story that needs to be heard.

[Chari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book so much. This is an award winner. Will be an important book for many kids.

[Kathy Flaherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m sure this wasn’t an easy story for the author to tell. I wanted to read the first chapter to see if it would be a good fit for my kids book club and I couldn’t put it down. Well done James Bird. I will recommend it to them!

[Ana Kyrcz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great middle grade novel that confronts many important and relevant societal issues including poverty and racism.

Publication Date: August 8, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[zeynah ✿ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book broke me in many places at many times.

“Maybe monsters are everywhere. Some are dads that are supposed to love you, but don’t. Some monsters wear uniforms and carry guns. Some wear suits and try to split families up. Some are landlords. Some are mothers who won’t let their daughters pet a cute puppy.
Maybe the world is full of monsters.”

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better for a middle school age rather than a middle grade age. Brutally beautiful and hard to read at times. Lost a star because it's a touch slow in some areas. But overall, so many important themes in the book: homelessness, racism against indigenous culture, reclaiming indigenous culture and positive thinking despite challenges.

[Bernadette Roche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, a bit repetitive in the action. It's a bit sad that the main characters are from the cultural background with the challenges they face. Yet I also honor the reality that they represent. Still deciding if I'll add this to our library.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I initially started this book because it was one that we recommended on a book list. I am so glad that I did! The story is rare and one that is necessary. It is tough to read about the homelessness and abuse, but it is important.

[Tyra Damm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a tough journey with 12-year-old Opin, who lives with his mom and older brother in a Ford Pinto. They get knocked down over and over as they seek stability and a real home. There is anger and violence balanced by music and slivers of hope. 3.5 stars

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 5 out of 5]

An urban Native American boy’s gripping survival story, inspired by the author's own childhood experiences.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A middle grade novel that takes us on an indigenous family’s journey of homelessness and poverty. James Bird writes from experience and with genuineness that will resonate with readers.

[Jennifer Hottinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read!

[Abby Puhl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I abandoned this book. Again & again there’s a huge focus on the mother’s appearance. I was reading this to recommend to students, but I just didn’t like how the mom is always hit on or her appearance is described. I didn’t think it would fit well for my seventh graders.

[Kim Bahr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad yet uplifting at the same time…

[Linda Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Good

This is a powerful story. Should be required reading for middle schoolers. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it.

[Lisa Nocita · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author’s note at the end is everything. “I hope when you finish reading my story, you will look at your own childhood, and all the hardships you faced—and still face—and all the battles you encountered—and still do—and you are finally able to put down your armor and shake all the pain off your shoulders, because like me, you are where you are today because of what you endured. Life is a trip. It is filled with bumpy roads, dead ends, and dark tunnels. But if you keep moving forward and keep your eyes on the road, over time, you’ll notice those roads get a little smoother, those dead ends become U-turns, allowing you to turn around and try again. And there’s a light at the end of those dark tunnels. I’m not saying life is going to be easy; in fact, at times, it will be extremely difficult. But if you keep fighting, you’ll end up reaching the place you’re driving toward. The place where we are all trying to get to. And that place is called home. What is home? It is defined by the place where one lives. And if you’re reading these words, that means you survived whatever your past threw at you. You’re still here. You’re still alive. Home is not only a place…So, remember, our childhoods tell us who and where we once were, but we decide who we are and where we are today. We build our home. We are where we live.”

Definitely a novel of resilience. Opin is a unforgettable character. There are so very many sensitive, important topics touched upon; Homelessness, identity, race, Native American treatment and history, domestic abuse, alcoholism, violence, anger management, police treatment and stigma, education, class, wealth, and morally gray areas. It is appropriate for middle school readers but it is an unflinching look at homelessness and the cycle of poverty. I think it would be a very good book club title because I feel like my students could use some guidance on how to process this and discuss the issues with empathy and civility.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My digital ARC has so many highlights and notes from reading, and yes there is a dog in the book, but (spoiler alert) there’s a rare happy dog ending. Praise to Bird for layering in a multitude of topics (consumerism, capitalism, abuse, anger, hope) and bringing the family of four to life with grace (I was very invested in them). And praise too for the hard look at a system that sets individuals up for failure, speaking truth to the lived experience of so many.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Place Like Home
by James Bird
Pub Date 08 Aug 2023
Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends
Children's Fiction | Middle Grade


I am reviewing a copy of No Place Like Home through Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends and Netgalley:


If your only home is a car, life is unpredictable, not even meals or schooling is a guarantee. Not every town has a shelter where a family can sleep for a night or two, and places with parking lots don't welcome overnight stays.



Opin, his Mother and Brother Emjay are trying to get to Los Angeles, where they hope an uncle and a new life are waiting. Emjay has taken to disappearing for days, slowing down the family's progress and adding to their worry.


After Opin finds a stray dog that needs him as much as he needs her, his longing for a stable home intensifies, and his brothers reckless ways hit an all time high.


Opin makes a new friend in the shelter, but shelters don’t allow dogs…

Will anything other than a real home ever be enough?


No Place Like Home would be a great book to broach the topic of homelessness , and poverty especially as it relates to Native Americans, and a great way to remind young readers that just because someone doesn't have a home, that doesn't mean they don't have goals.


I give No Place Like Home five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

[CYBILS Awards]

We spotted this in Melissa Taylor's Instagram (aka @imaginationsoup) https://www.instagram.com/p/CvqOoSnLDNE/

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book. 

Phew - this book has a lot to say and packs an emotional punch! This is such an important middle grade book and I think a lot of young readers will feel seen for the first time in print. In this story, we hear Opin's stream-of-consciousness narration (and processing) about his experiences with being unhoused, living in poverty, and life as an indigenous person in America; not to mention the fear of Child Protective Services and police, safe behaviors for staying in shelters, having an absent parent, the near-impossibility of navigating government assistance, and more. Not only does this book have brilliant representation that is not common in middle grade books, but it provides a lense for readers who don't share these experiences to look at the world through. Opin describes a way of living that is a stark contrast to the middle-class American dream that we see portrayed in most media; he gives a human voice and insight to many of the struggles that children and their families are living through and I cannot emphasize enough how important that is for children to learn about. Maybe it helps a kid show a little more kindness to the kid in class that doesn't smell great or stand up for kids being bullied for looking different from them. I highly recommend this book for readers of any age (honestly there are many adults I know that could learn lessons from Opin and his mom). So glad to see this new wave of diverse middle-grade books that tackle tough topics (Iveliz Explains It All is another one I highly recommend). 

"No, the truth is uglier. The truth is America pays people to house a bunch of kids whose families have no money or are broken in other ways. And who doesn’t want money? Who would say no to that? No one. So kids like me are sent to random houses with random people. I’ve heard a lot of bad stuff happens at these places. Awful things. And if the kids run away from these places or fight back, they go to juvie. It’s on their record forever. Then what chance do any of those kids got? And does America care? Nope. They treat us like being poor is a crime. Well, if it is, it is America that committed it. Not us. They made the game. They wrote the rules. We shouldn’t be punished for playing it."

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartfelt story about a boy trying to make it in life when the cards are stacked against him. Particularly, his mom hasn't made it easy to stay anywhere for too long because they are homeless, living out of a car, and have never been able to quite get a house over their head and food on the table.

Inde, Opin's mom can take on any man because she's a beautiful Indigenous woman who works her wiles to be able to get what's needed and that includes, though Opin isn't quite sure what his mom's Night Owl makeup does when she goes out at night, but also when someone questions them at a hotel they're getting a key to to take a shower in a stranger's room or pulled over by a cop. She tries to make it fun, a game and Opin has been able to manage this for quite a while though his older brother Emjay, as a teen, is bursting his bubble more often that it's not fun and games and that their life isn't a great grand adventure.

What readers get is raw in a deeply empathetic understanding of homelessness from the nervousness of where to get a meal to what it's like in a shelter and the people you meet there. It's also apparent that Opin's eyes are being opened a little wider to what is now a little more serious of a situation. It's tragic but real and Opin's voice is phenomenal through and through. As are the fully-developed secondary characters like Emjay and his mom and even Ani, the dog.

There's touches of humor and entertainment like the music they sing along to or how Inde "schools" Opin and their love of libraries for instance.

...

[Sally Kruger · Rating 5 out of 5]

NO PLACE LIKE HOME is a brand-new release by James Bird the author of THE BRAVE. This middle grade novel lets readers travel with Opin and his mother and brother as they look for a place to call home.

Opin is homeless. Living out of a small red, Pinto is not something he wants, but he tries to make the best of it. Sometimes they get to stay in a shelter where there are bunk beds and usually some kind of questionable soup. Unfortunately, those places can be smelly and are often filled with less than desirable characters.

Making money to keep the car filled with gas so they can continue their journey to LosAngeles means dancing with his mother on the street for handouts, selling his artwork to generous passers-by, or sleeping alone in the car while his mother "works." Opin wishes his older brother would be nicer to him and quit running off and worrying their mother, but he knows that dealing with being homeless and poor brings out the anger in his brother.

Even at Opin's young age he has learned a lot about the world, like "which religious groups are the most accommodating for a family living in a car to spend a night or two in their holy parking lots? Easy peasy. Buddhists are the best. They'll even offer you food sometimes.... The worst would be Christian churches. They call the cops and get your car towed away."

Opin wants nothing more than to find a home and maybe a friend. He doesn't remember much about his father; only that his mother says she left him so Opin and his brother would be safe. She has taught him to read and insists that he learns as much as he can. She also makes sure he understands his Native American ancestry and even some of the language of the Ojibwe.

Author James Bird's life inspired Opin's story. In an author's note at the end of the book, Bird relates the similarities and shares his appreciation for all who helped him on the path to where he is today.

[Ms. Tongate, TLC Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read on homelessness. This book is very well-written and has great characters. I highly recommend it. A powerful read-aloud for middle and high school students. If you read one book this year, make it this pick!

Quotes:
p.103 "I stand there beside their car and see my reflection against their window glass. Why did that lady not want her daughter to talk to me? Why didn't she let her daughter pet Ani? Is it because I'm not in a fancy car like they are? Because all my clothes are hand-me-downs? Because my skin is a bit darker than theirs? I look down at Ani, who sees me for who I really am. She loves me, not because where I live and how I live or how I look. She loves me because she knows me. The real me.

p. 204 "When I told you your father I was pregnant again, he didn't smile. He didn't hug me. You know what he did? He punched me in the stomach. After that day, I came up with a plan to leave him. I got a job at McDonald's. He allowed it as long as I gave him the money. I did, but I hid some of it from him. A few dollars here and there, from each paycheck. Never enough for him to notice. It took me 4 years to save up enough. I even asked our neighbors for help. My friends. Unfortunately, those friends told their husbands about my plan. Those husbands told your father. He wasn't happy. And he let his fist fly. Opin was 4. You were 7. He beat me and then he took all the money. So, I took you and your brother and left. With nothing. And here we are."

[Rebecca Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

The middle grade novel No Place Like Home by James Bird (Feiwel & Friends, August 2023) is a heartfelt tale of resilience and the power of cultural identity. Twelve-year-old Ojibwe boy Opin faces the increasing discomfort of homelessness as he and his mother and brother make their way to Los Angeles to be with family. Using the facts he knows from American history about past treatment of Native Americans, Opin adapts a fantastical look of life that transforms his world into a game of “us” versus the “Calvary,” finding commonalities between his trials and those early Native Americans may have faced. Throughout his transformative journey, Opin evolves from a timid child to a determined individual who refuses to surrender in his pursuit of hope, even as he faces and unknown future.

When I began reading, I had the impression that Opin was possibly “slow” since he did not seem to see his situation clearly. His first-person account of his experience seemed disconnected from the actual events of his homelessness. As his story progressed, I came to see that he was an incredibly smart child. As a part of this, his way of seeing the world, through the lens of a type of Native American survival game, helped protect him from dangerous and uncomfortable realities. While Opin’s brother, Emjay, seemed only to add to their problems, Opin’s attempts to fit him into his narrative gives more insight into these parallel perspectives: reality versus life as a game.

Bird’s portrayal of Opin’s mother, Inde, is also particularly noteworthy as an example of Native American cultural identity. Inde’s parents had endured oppression, forced into residential schools that stripped them of their language and traditions. Inde takes joy in learning her tribal language, listening to Native music, and rejoicing that she is unique. As Opin strives to find his place in the world as an Ojibwe with his mother’s help, I couldn’t help but be moved by the generational journey of reclaiming cultural roots.

No Place Like Home invites readers to reflect on the often-overlooked issue of homelessness, especially among marginalized communities. The story helped me reflect on the empathy, understanding, and support these individuals so desperately need. James Bird skillfully weaves together themes of homelessness, Native American culture identity, and family bonds, creating a story that captivates young readers. It would be difficult to forget Opin’s life perspective and unique voice.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance review copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. Very thought provoking and touching. After hearing the author speak earlier this month, I knew it was a must read for me. (recommend for older middle grades) This life of being on the run, homeless, unloved by the father/husband they left behind, survival, ingenuity, and the love and bond between family made me stop and think. I’m grateful for my family and upbringing. I cannot imagine living this kind of life. But that’s why I read this type of book - to put myself in others’ shoes and feel for them, better understand their life and hardships and learn from them and hopefully, have a bigger heart for them.
From the author’s note: “…because like me, you are where you are today because of what you endured. Life is a trip. It is filled with bumpy roads, dead ends, and dark tunnels. But if you keep moving forward and keep your eyes on the road, over time, you’ll notice those roads get a little smoother, those dead ends become U turns, allowing you to turn around and try again. And there’s light at the end of those dark tunnels.”

and also from the story: “…losing someone you love…hurts. A lot. But maybe it tells us to hold on to the ones we love even tighter while they’re still with us. We shouldn’t take things for granted, especially love.”❤️

Thank you for this book of gut punches, real life that’s not smooth and pretty, and hope.