Homesick: Race and Exclusion in Rural New England

by Emily Walton

A racial demographic transition has come to rural northern New England. White population losses sit alongside racial and ethnic minority population gains in nearly all of the small towns of the Upper Valley region spanning New Hampshire and Vermont. Homesick considers these trends in a part of the country widely considered to be progressive, offering new insights on the ways white residents maintain racial hierarchies even there.

  Walton focuses on the experiences of mostly well-educated migrants of color moving to the area to take well-paid jobs – in this case in health care, higher education, software development, and engineering. Walton shows that white residents maintain their social position through misrecognition—a failure or unwillingness to see people of color as legitimate, welcome, and valuable members of the community. The ultimate impact of such misrecognition is a profound sense of homesickness, a deep longing for a place in which one can feel safe, wanted, and accepted.

  Tightly and sensitively argued, this book helps us better understand how to recognize and unsettle such processes of exclusion in diversifying spaces in general.

Genres: Nonfiction

163 pages, Paperback

Published November 25, 2025

Reviews

[Lfineberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book to anyone in the Upper Valley (and beyond) who is interested in learning about trends in racial demographics in our rural communities, and about the impact of misrecognition (a term I learned in reading this book) on members of these communities. This book is different from the type of books I usually read, which made it all the more impactful. Even as a white reader and long time member of this community, I was able to recognize and relate to many of the stories and vignettes from non-white participants in surveys and interviews. I love that the book ends with practical and do-able suggestions for change.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I live in the Upper Valley and I found this book to be informative and thought provoking. This book is the result of extensive research including surveys, interviews and historical demographic information. Emily Walton offers not only the struggles of the individuals who locate to the area looking for a sense of belonging and "home" but also suggestions to create a more inclusive community. Although the author describes this as a sort of academic book, it is a fast read that leaves a lasting impression that will not soon be forgotten.

[Helene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really well written, documented, easy to read. I might not have picked it up if not for the Antrim Conversation Group. I did hear her speak in Peterborough when Toadstool sponsored her book talk.

There is much in here to think about. The Upper Valley is not that much different from the Monadnock Area, maybe a bit more urban. People of color here are truly invisible and after reading this, we all need to make a better effort of welcoming them into the community. Though I am a NH native, as I was born here and have lived her all of my life so far, I am just second generation, not thirteenth as is my husband.

I look forward to our next discussion and hope that the CALL Book Group also selects this book as I really want to read it again.