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When You Look Like Us
When you look like us—brown skin, brown eyes, black braids or fades—people think you’re trouble. No one looks twice at a missing black girl from the projects because she must’ve brought whatever happened to her upon herself. I, Jay Murphy, can admit that, for a minute, I thought my sister, Nicole, got too caught up with her boyfriend—a drug dealer—and his friends.
But she’s been gone too long now.
If I hadn’t hung up on her that night, she’d be spending time with our grandma. If I was a better brother, she’d be finishing senior year instead of being another name on a missing persons list. It’s time to step up and do what the Newport News police department won’t.
Nic, I’m bringing you home.
But she’s been gone too long now.
If I hadn’t hung up on her that night, she’d be spending time with our grandma. If I was a better brother, she’d be finishing senior year instead of being another name on a missing persons list. It’s time to step up and do what the Newport News police department won’t.
Nic, I’m bringing you home.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 5, 2021
97 people are currently reading
8767 people want to read
About the author
Pamela N. Harris
4 books138 followersBorn and somewhat raised in Newport News, Virginia, also affectionately known as “Bad News.” A former school counselor by day, she received her bachelor’s in English and a master’s in school counseling at Old Dominion University, her M.F.A in creative writing at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision at William and Mary. When she isn’t writing, Pam is rewatching Leonardo DiCaprio movies, playing with her kiddos, and pretending to enjoy exercising.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 310 reviews
December 22, 2020
“Cops don’t listen to guys like me—and they damn sure don’t care about girls like Nic.”
I started this book knowing full well that I had to be an adult and do adult things before the holiday comes around. I told myself that I would read a few pages here and there while I had a spare moment. What a joke that was! I lied to myself because I finished this in less than a day. I couldn’t put down this heart-stopping read. It was one of those books where I wanted answers but never wanted it to end.
This book takes us on a journey of how far you're willing to go for family and to stand up for what you believe in. That rumors are just that and we should judge people and things by our way of thinking and not anyone else's. That just because someone is in a blue uniform doesn't make them trustworthy or have your best interests at heart.
I was instantly transported into this book from page one and it was one that will always cling to me. Jay was a strong and level-headed character that you couldn't help but feel attached to and to what he was feeling and doing. He spoke from the heart and from deep down within his soul. You feel that through the power of his words and actions. The power and love that he brought forth was something I've never experienced with a character before and it was mesmerizing. The close relationship he has with his family is amazing and I'm glad that they never shied away from that.
When You Look Like Me was a powerful page-turner. This phenomenal mystery was one that kept me invested all the way through that contained lots of heart, growth, and the power of never giving up. This is one hell of a debut that you won't want to miss.
I started this book knowing full well that I had to be an adult and do adult things before the holiday comes around. I told myself that I would read a few pages here and there while I had a spare moment. What a joke that was! I lied to myself because I finished this in less than a day. I couldn’t put down this heart-stopping read. It was one of those books where I wanted answers but never wanted it to end.
This book takes us on a journey of how far you're willing to go for family and to stand up for what you believe in. That rumors are just that and we should judge people and things by our way of thinking and not anyone else's. That just because someone is in a blue uniform doesn't make them trustworthy or have your best interests at heart.
I was instantly transported into this book from page one and it was one that will always cling to me. Jay was a strong and level-headed character that you couldn't help but feel attached to and to what he was feeling and doing. He spoke from the heart and from deep down within his soul. You feel that through the power of his words and actions. The power and love that he brought forth was something I've never experienced with a character before and it was mesmerizing. The close relationship he has with his family is amazing and I'm glad that they never shied away from that.
When You Look Like Me was a powerful page-turner. This phenomenal mystery was one that kept me invested all the way through that contained lots of heart, growth, and the power of never giving up. This is one hell of a debut that you won't want to miss.
February 8, 2021
I overall really liked the story and was hard to stop listening to. Very suspensfull YA even tough there hardly is any action.
September 21, 2020
OMG this was an awesome book! It's absolutely rare that I ever think, "I wish there were more than five stars!" but this one fits that bill. As someone who reviews constantly, edits frequently, and is also a published author with constant deadlines, it's also rare that I get caught up at 11 o'clock at night finishing a book, but this one did that too.
What set this book apart for me--as someone who was an English teacher for 24 years and taught in juvenile corrections, so knows her way around diverse voices in YA--was the fact that this was not just another "my terrible life in the ghetto" book. This story accurately portrayed the greater reality, that man students who would be considered at-risk and who may live in less-than-ideal conditions also attend schools with affluent students. Too many people think of "black schools" and "white schools" instead of schools filled with students of every race and color, as well as every income level and need.
Aside from that aspect which first made me fall in love with this book, the author seamlessly weaves a story of a typical teenager who happens to face tremendous obstacles. Yes, his father is absent, but it's due to cancer (not the stereotype). Yes, his mother is in prison, but it's due to alcoholism caused by grief that led to a DUI (again, not the stereotype). Yes, the protagonist is a young black male, but as even he points out, his pants don't sag and he's being hounded throughout the book to accept the position of co-editor of his high school's lit mag. No stereotypes there either, just a normal, semi-adjusted student.
His problems arise early when his sister disappears. This is where the stereotypes hit hard, though. Jay turns to the police, who dismiss him outright. A local news channel picks up the story to do a public plea, then turns it into a scandal piece and paints his sister as a drug-using dropout who's dating a drug dealer. Suffice to say, the "bad guys" in the book turn out to be heroes, the "good guys" are the worst of the worst.
It was great to see a book that was so intricately woven, so well-written, and so engaging that also manages to blow apart the stereotypes. Highly recommend this read!!!
What set this book apart for me--as someone who was an English teacher for 24 years and taught in juvenile corrections, so knows her way around diverse voices in YA--was the fact that this was not just another "my terrible life in the ghetto" book. This story accurately portrayed the greater reality, that man students who would be considered at-risk and who may live in less-than-ideal conditions also attend schools with affluent students. Too many people think of "black schools" and "white schools" instead of schools filled with students of every race and color, as well as every income level and need.
Aside from that aspect which first made me fall in love with this book, the author seamlessly weaves a story of a typical teenager who happens to face tremendous obstacles. Yes, his father is absent, but it's due to cancer (not the stereotype). Yes, his mother is in prison, but it's due to alcoholism caused by grief that led to a DUI (again, not the stereotype). Yes, the protagonist is a young black male, but as even he points out, his pants don't sag and he's being hounded throughout the book to accept the position of co-editor of his high school's lit mag. No stereotypes there either, just a normal, semi-adjusted student.
His problems arise early when his sister disappears. This is where the stereotypes hit hard, though. Jay turns to the police, who dismiss him outright. A local news channel picks up the story to do a public plea, then turns it into a scandal piece and paints his sister as a drug-using dropout who's dating a drug dealer. Suffice to say, the "bad guys" in the book turn out to be heroes, the "good guys" are the worst of the worst.
It was great to see a book that was so intricately woven, so well-written, and so engaging that also manages to blow apart the stereotypes. Highly recommend this read!!!
Read
June 25, 2022TW: death of parent, cancer, drug usage, violence, racism, stroke, n-word
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:When you look like us—brown skin, brown eyes, black braids or fades—people think you’re trouble. No one looks twice at a missing black girl from the projects because she must’ve brought whatever happened to her upon herself. I, Jay Murphy, can admit that, for a minute, I thought my sister, Nicole, got too caught up with her boyfriend—a drug dealer—and his friends.But she’s been gone too long now.If I hadn’t hung up on her that night, she’d be spending time with our grandma. If I was a better brother, she’d be finishing senior year instead of being another name on a missing persons list. It’s time to step up and do what the Newport News police department won’t.Nic, I’m bringing you home.
Release Date: 01/05/2021
Genre: YA thriller
Pages: 368
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
• The writing style
• Some parts were suspenseful
• I loved all of the characters
What I Didn't Like:
• More of character development
• The news anchor dude *cringe*
• The ending is too rushed and flushed out enough
Overall Thoughts: I felt so bad for Jay who rather than hanging out with his sister decides not to. The guilt he carried around trying to find her but worried about their grandmother too.
I found Jay to be a sweet teen who tried to do the right things and not get into trouble, which is difficult as a teen.
It made me angry that he was upset at Riley because she couldn't hang out with him just because he was a boy. I know he's under a lot of stress but she has been trying to help find his sister and he reacts badly.
I actually dropped my mouth in shock when they annoyed that Nicole's boyfriend was found dead. I did not see that coming.
I am so happy Nicole was found alive. Seriously I was convinced that she was dead.
The ending felt like it wrapped up so fast but it took a while to get there. Like we spend all this time looking for Nicole and in few chapters they have managed to find the teens responsible, be kidnapped, fight back, and get saved. I'm also not sure how the place tracked them to the right location just because they knew something was off with his clothes.
Final Thoughts: I am seriously shocked that more people haven't read this book. I thought the author did a great job putting down Jay's grief to paper and making you feel for him. In a YA book that can be challenging. The writing was so good and I was never bored with what was happening. I felt like there was a mystery here and the hardships of being black and taken serious when a loved one is missing. I will definitely read/seek out other books from this author.
IG | Blog
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:When you look like us—brown skin, brown eyes, black braids or fades—people think you’re trouble. No one looks twice at a missing black girl from the projects because she must’ve brought whatever happened to her upon herself. I, Jay Murphy, can admit that, for a minute, I thought my sister, Nicole, got too caught up with her boyfriend—a drug dealer—and his friends.But she’s been gone too long now.If I hadn’t hung up on her that night, she’d be spending time with our grandma. If I was a better brother, she’d be finishing senior year instead of being another name on a missing persons list. It’s time to step up and do what the Newport News police department won’t.Nic, I’m bringing you home.
Release Date: 01/05/2021
Genre: YA thriller
Pages: 368
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
• The writing style
• Some parts were suspenseful
• I loved all of the characters
What I Didn't Like:
• More of character development
• The news anchor dude *cringe*
• The ending is too rushed and flushed out enough
Overall Thoughts: I felt so bad for Jay who rather than hanging out with his sister decides not to. The guilt he carried around trying to find her but worried about their grandmother too.
I found Jay to be a sweet teen who tried to do the right things and not get into trouble, which is difficult as a teen.
It made me angry that he was upset at Riley because she couldn't hang out with him just because he was a boy. I know he's under a lot of stress but she has been trying to help find his sister and he reacts badly.
I actually dropped my mouth in shock when they annoyed that Nicole's boyfriend was found dead. I did not see that coming.
I am so happy Nicole was found alive. Seriously I was convinced that she was dead.
The ending felt like it wrapped up so fast but it took a while to get there. Like we spend all this time looking for Nicole and in few chapters they have managed to find the teens responsible, be kidnapped, fight back, and get saved. I'm also not sure how the place tracked them to the right location just because they knew something was off with his clothes.
Final Thoughts: I am seriously shocked that more people haven't read this book. I thought the author did a great job putting down Jay's grief to paper and making you feel for him. In a YA book that can be challenging. The writing was so good and I was never bored with what was happening. I felt like there was a mystery here and the hardships of being black and taken serious when a loved one is missing. I will definitely read/seek out other books from this author.
IG | Blog
May 5, 2021
3.5
I liked the mystery/suspense aspect, and the audiobook reader did a good job. It was really hard to like the main character because he made stupid decision after stupid decision, while also being awful to pretty much everyone, but I guess that can be seen as authentically "teen."
This reminded me of earlier teen fiction, like that of Sharon Draper: very low on profanity, cautionary about drugs/drinking, and the adult community helpers (teachers, counselors, pastors and cops) are mostly the good guys in the end.
The made-up profanity and drug slang (especially "bliss," which stood in for weed) really took me out of the story. I also thought the whole "bliss/marijuana" will 100% ruin your life and maybe even lead to ***MURDER!!*** thing was absurd, since it's legal in several states, including [later this year] the state the book is set in. The teens I work with would probably laugh at this reductive, Reefer Madness-y take.
Good for classroom discussions; younger teen readers who want gentler looks at dark issues like racism and drug abuse; and mystery/suspense fans. Readers who want a grittier/darker look at the systemic failures surrounding the investigation and reporting of missing Black girls may prefer Monday's Not Coming.
I liked the mystery/suspense aspect, and the audiobook reader did a good job. It was really hard to like the main character because he made stupid decision after stupid decision, while also being awful to pretty much everyone, but I guess that can be seen as authentically "teen."
This reminded me of earlier teen fiction, like that of Sharon Draper: very low on profanity, cautionary about drugs/drinking, and the adult community helpers (teachers, counselors, pastors and cops) are mostly the good guys in the end.
The made-up profanity and drug slang (especially "bliss," which stood in for weed) really took me out of the story. I also thought the whole "bliss/marijuana" will 100% ruin your life and maybe even lead to ***MURDER!!*** thing was absurd, since it's legal in several states, including [later this year] the state the book is set in. The teens I work with would probably laugh at this reductive, Reefer Madness-y take.
Good for classroom discussions; younger teen readers who want gentler looks at dark issues like racism and drug abuse; and mystery/suspense fans. Readers who want a grittier/darker look at the systemic failures surrounding the investigation and reporting of missing Black girls may prefer Monday's Not Coming.
December 28, 2020
What does "us" look like? Brown skin, brown eyes, black hair, braids or fades, according to Jay Murphy. Most people assume we are trouble. And sadly, no one thinks twice about a missing black girl. For a minute, even Jay assumed his sister, Nicole, was off hanging with her boyfriend. But she's been gone too long. When the police department doesn't do anything about the missing persons report, Jay takes it upon himself to find and bring Nicole back home.
When You Look Like Us is very timely. How often are people of color treated differently or just plain disregarded? How many black girls are missing and no one seems to care? How many times have you started a sentence with, "When you look like us..."? Lastly, how many young black boys have to grow up too early when adults don't step up? Pamela N. Harris brought these issues to the forefront with well written fiction and characters that could easily be our brother or sister.
It's the copyeditor in me that notices small details. *wink, wink* for the book beginning and ending with a thump, thump, thump. So add, add, add it to your reading list for 2021.
Happy Early Pub Day, Pamela N. Harris! When You Look Like Us will be available Tuesday, January 5.
~LiteraryMarie
When You Look Like Us is very timely. How often are people of color treated differently or just plain disregarded? How many black girls are missing and no one seems to care? How many times have you started a sentence with, "When you look like us..."? Lastly, how many young black boys have to grow up too early when adults don't step up? Pamela N. Harris brought these issues to the forefront with well written fiction and characters that could easily be our brother or sister.
It's the copyeditor in me that notices small details. *wink, wink* for the book beginning and ending with a thump, thump, thump. So add, add, add it to your reading list for 2021.
Happy Early Pub Day, Pamela N. Harris! When You Look Like Us will be available Tuesday, January 5.
~LiteraryMarie
January 26, 2023
This is our book club read for January. When You Look Like Us is a YA novel that deals with the lack of seriousness that occurs when black and brown people go missing. Even if you speak with black and brown officers of the law. Our Main character is Jay and while his sister, Nikki, is known for going MIA every now and again, Jay knows something isn't right this time.
I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters, except maybe Riley. Jay was so book smart and yet didn't understand the world around him when he lived in it everyday. Nonetheless, I felt the story was fast pace and kept me guessing. I think there could have been a better villain responsible at the end, but you get what ya get I suppose.
I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters, except maybe Riley. Jay was so book smart and yet didn't understand the world around him when he lived in it everyday. Nonetheless, I felt the story was fast pace and kept me guessing. I think there could have been a better villain responsible at the end, but you get what ya get I suppose.
January 28, 2021
When You Look Like Us is a story many Black people have experienced or heard about. Either directly or by extension–through someone they know, a childhood friend, a distant cousin, an old classmate...even through social media because it has been made abundantly clear, through fiction and reality, missing Black folks are not a priority for the media.
But for me When You Look Like Us was more than just a story shining a magnifying glass on how Black people are seen and treated as less than, or vilified and dismissed even when we're the victim. Jay and Nics story also shined a light on how a history of being cast aside and even demonized in times of need or when we are wronged, has irrevocably altered the way we move through spaces and communicate or fail to when we need help.
There were so many instances throughout the book when Jay began worrying about his sisters' whereabouts and then became genuinely concerned, that I wanted to scream "TELL SOMEONE" but I didn't because I understood without him even having to explain, why he was hesitant to do so. Because what will people say? What will they think? How will they spin the narrative to make it seem like Nic wasn't deserving of his or anyone else's concern. How quickly will they dismiss his fears? All valid feelings and fears that all came to fruition.
I wanted to be pissed and outraged at the lack of sense of urgency from the police when Jay originally got the courage to speak up about his missing sister. I wanted to be pissed at how quickly the same police took the first piece of circumstantial evidence they could find to try and close the case without even having found his sister. I wanted to be horrified by the way the local news station misconstrued and twisted the words of Jay and his grandmother to further the narrative that his sister was a miscreant who asked for the predicament she was in. But I couldn't because we see it on such a consistent basis that I am numb to it.
But because of that, I'm glad Pamela focused more on Jay and his love and dedication to his grandmother and sister, his focus and determination to be a good student, and ultimately his unwavering commitment to finding his sister and bringing her home. Getting to know Jay as he tried to find his sister endeared him so much to me and helped to overshadow the numbness and almost anger I would have had while reading this book. I felt devastation, stress, fear, and anger not because of how unfair everything seemed to be or because of all the deadends Jay faced with ZERO help from the so-called authorities. But because Pamela did a great job of making you care about and empathize with Jay.
Was this book an exciting thriller with constant twists and turns and zero time to catch your breath between one adventure and the next? No, but it was a relatable, genuine, and authentic feeling story. One that kept me invested, engaged, and entertained.
But for me When You Look Like Us was more than just a story shining a magnifying glass on how Black people are seen and treated as less than, or vilified and dismissed even when we're the victim. Jay and Nics story also shined a light on how a history of being cast aside and even demonized in times of need or when we are wronged, has irrevocably altered the way we move through spaces and communicate or fail to when we need help.
There were so many instances throughout the book when Jay began worrying about his sisters' whereabouts and then became genuinely concerned, that I wanted to scream "TELL SOMEONE" but I didn't because I understood without him even having to explain, why he was hesitant to do so. Because what will people say? What will they think? How will they spin the narrative to make it seem like Nic wasn't deserving of his or anyone else's concern. How quickly will they dismiss his fears? All valid feelings and fears that all came to fruition.
I wanted to be pissed and outraged at the lack of sense of urgency from the police when Jay originally got the courage to speak up about his missing sister. I wanted to be pissed at how quickly the same police took the first piece of circumstantial evidence they could find to try and close the case without even having found his sister. I wanted to be horrified by the way the local news station misconstrued and twisted the words of Jay and his grandmother to further the narrative that his sister was a miscreant who asked for the predicament she was in. But I couldn't because we see it on such a consistent basis that I am numb to it.
But because of that, I'm glad Pamela focused more on Jay and his love and dedication to his grandmother and sister, his focus and determination to be a good student, and ultimately his unwavering commitment to finding his sister and bringing her home. Getting to know Jay as he tried to find his sister endeared him so much to me and helped to overshadow the numbness and almost anger I would have had while reading this book. I felt devastation, stress, fear, and anger not because of how unfair everything seemed to be or because of all the deadends Jay faced with ZERO help from the so-called authorities. But because Pamela did a great job of making you care about and empathize with Jay.
Was this book an exciting thriller with constant twists and turns and zero time to catch your breath between one adventure and the next? No, but it was a relatable, genuine, and authentic feeling story. One that kept me invested, engaged, and entertained.
September 22, 2020
I genuinely enjoyed reading "When You Look Like Us." I thought this book was well written and very timely. The characters were relatable and it was easy to empathize with Jay in his search for Nic. I was often frustrated by his attempt to stay out of her business, and I think good writing makes the reader feel these types of emotions. I was constantly hoping that Jay would get it together and so it built investment as he was going through this process. The characters were developed and Jay's growth specifically was strong. The book touched on important topics and brought to light how easily it is to make assumptions about people, even within a specific community, because of how society in general is so quick to have such biases. I look forward to this book's publication and recommending it to my students!
December 19, 2020
A heart breaking story about family, and lost. This story follow Jayson a high school teenager who trying to hold down his sister and take care of grandmother , all while trying to handle the pressures of life . His burden become heavier when his sister Nic goes missing. Determine find her , he teams up with an unlikely ally , doing everything possible to bring her home, even if everyone one else seems to give up hope .
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I love the development of Jays character , how throughout the story he grows and matured , confronting his own beliefs and stereotypes. A powerful story about overcoming obstacles and fighting together .
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I love the development of Jays character , how throughout the story he grows and matured , confronting his own beliefs and stereotypes. A powerful story about overcoming obstacles and fighting together .
November 20, 2021
this book has haunted me since i put it down— the raw, unvarnished storyline. the various unexpected turns of events. THE ENDING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
i have not been able to stop thinking about the characters. about the kids who come from “bad news” neighborhoods. about all the Jays. all the Nicoles. all the Kennys. about me reading this from the comfort of my privilege.
“This will only be my fuel, not my combustion,” she said. She told me her postsecondary plans [...] She wanted to fight against the system that for so long fought against people who look like her. Yeah . . . my sister’s tough as titanium.”
i have not been able to stop thinking about the characters. about the kids who come from “bad news” neighborhoods. about all the Jays. all the Nicoles. all the Kennys. about me reading this from the comfort of my privilege.
“This will only be my fuel, not my combustion,” she said. She told me her postsecondary plans [...] She wanted to fight against the system that for so long fought against people who look like her. Yeah . . . my sister’s tough as titanium.”
January 2, 2022
"Me and you against the world, right?"
Jay is a sixteen-year-old boy with a lot in his plate: his mom is in jail, his dad is dead, he lives with his grandma MiMi who suffers from heart problems and his sister Nic is dating the neighborhood's drug dealer. One day Nic fails to come home. Jay decides to report her missing sister to the police, but they don't do anything to look for her, so he decides to investigate the disappearance on his own.
Jay could be really stuborn at times, not letting anybody help him do anything and trying to solve everything by himself. As much as Jay says he going to look for his sister, he doesn't do much until Riley comes along. There times where Jay was a bit of an hypocrite, as he didn't like people judging him without knowing him, yet he had no problem forming his own opinions about others.
The cops irritated me to no end. So, someone is seen hanging out with a drug dealer, therefore that means they are not worth searching if they go missing? Not to mention, Nic was a minor.
Riley was the real MVP here. She was very selfless, funny and caring. Also very understanding. She didn't hesitate to help Jay when he needed it. I love her!
I really enjoyed the social commentary, how people are seen as "less" or "trouble" because they live in a low income neighborhood, how poverty makes people jump to the assumption that you are a thief/drug dealer, etc.
All side characters were amazing. Bowie was an awesome friend, MiMi reminded me a lot of my own grandma, even Jovan wasn't what he portrayed to be.
Really wholesome book, the author is fantastic. Highly recommend.
Jay is a sixteen-year-old boy with a lot in his plate: his mom is in jail, his dad is dead, he lives with his grandma MiMi who suffers from heart problems and his sister Nic is dating the neighborhood's drug dealer. One day Nic fails to come home. Jay decides to report her missing sister to the police, but they don't do anything to look for her, so he decides to investigate the disappearance on his own.
Jay could be really stuborn at times, not letting anybody help him do anything and trying to solve everything by himself. As much as Jay says he going to look for his sister, he doesn't do much until Riley comes along. There times where Jay was a bit of an hypocrite, as he didn't like people judging him without knowing him, yet he had no problem forming his own opinions about others.
The cops irritated me to no end. So, someone is seen hanging out with a drug dealer, therefore that means they are not worth searching if they go missing? Not to mention, Nic was a minor.
Riley was the real MVP here. She was very selfless, funny and caring. Also very understanding. She didn't hesitate to help Jay when he needed it. I love her!
I really enjoyed the social commentary, how people are seen as "less" or "trouble" because they live in a low income neighborhood, how poverty makes people jump to the assumption that you are a thief/drug dealer, etc.
All side characters were amazing. Bowie was an awesome friend, MiMi reminded me a lot of my own grandma, even Jovan wasn't what he portrayed to be.
Really wholesome book, the author is fantastic. Highly recommend.
September 26, 2023
This book was an interesting read. The plot was interesting but the ending took away a little of the shine of this book in my opinion. The ending stretched the imagination of the reader, but all in all this book could be a good read for any teenager. It does not put any one agenda aggressively and it contents itself with just being a good story.
April 11, 2021
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
April 15, 2021
When You Look Like Us is a young adult mystery thriller novel written by Pamela N. Harris. It centers on a high school junior fights to find his sister before times runs out.
After their father died of cancer and their mother was sent to prison for driving under the influence, Jay Murphy and his sister, Nic, who is older by a year, were sent to live with their grandmother in the Ducts – a public housing complex in Newport News, Virginia.
Now 16, Jay juggles the stresses of high school, the odd jobs he's working to secretly save up for his grandmother's retirement, and being Nic's keeper. After years of covering for Nic, whenever she's high on bliss – a drug she receives from her neighborhood drug dealer boyfriend, Jay decides he is done worrying about Nic and trying to get her back on the right path.
His resolve, though, breaks down when Nic disappears and the police dismiss his concern, considering his sister just another missing Black girl in their county and a bliss-head besides.
When You Look Like Us is written rather well. Harris unapologetically gives voice to the grief that a community can feel when the law fails them, as well as their need to, instead, rely on the hope, love, and power they bring to one another. The strength and endurance of the Black family reverberate throughout this achingly honest debut. Harris' book shines a light on the repercussions of institutionalized racism on Black communities and the plight of missing Black girls.
All in all, When You Look Like Us is a powerful story about misperceptions, reality, and the lives lived in between.
After their father died of cancer and their mother was sent to prison for driving under the influence, Jay Murphy and his sister, Nic, who is older by a year, were sent to live with their grandmother in the Ducts – a public housing complex in Newport News, Virginia.
Now 16, Jay juggles the stresses of high school, the odd jobs he's working to secretly save up for his grandmother's retirement, and being Nic's keeper. After years of covering for Nic, whenever she's high on bliss – a drug she receives from her neighborhood drug dealer boyfriend, Jay decides he is done worrying about Nic and trying to get her back on the right path.
His resolve, though, breaks down when Nic disappears and the police dismiss his concern, considering his sister just another missing Black girl in their county and a bliss-head besides.
When You Look Like Us is written rather well. Harris unapologetically gives voice to the grief that a community can feel when the law fails them, as well as their need to, instead, rely on the hope, love, and power they bring to one another. The strength and endurance of the Black family reverberate throughout this achingly honest debut. Harris' book shines a light on the repercussions of institutionalized racism on Black communities and the plight of missing Black girls.
All in all, When You Look Like Us is a powerful story about misperceptions, reality, and the lives lived in between.
October 4, 2025
Kept Me On My Toes
This book had an element of suspense that I wasn’t expecting. I kept trying to solve the mystery. Towards the end I found myself holding my breath, hoping for a happy ending. At times, I thought the dialogue wasn’t believable. I didn’t feel like it fit for a teenage boy. Overall, I thought it was a really good story. Jay had an amazing village supporting him. It was endearing.
This book had an element of suspense that I wasn’t expecting. I kept trying to solve the mystery. Towards the end I found myself holding my breath, hoping for a happy ending. At times, I thought the dialogue wasn’t believable. I didn’t feel like it fit for a teenage boy. Overall, I thought it was a really good story. Jay had an amazing village supporting him. It was endearing.
December 5, 2022
Excellent book! I wish this author had more books. :(
July 2, 2022
Well well well, this book was a rollercoaster of emotions for me, but I can't say the same for the plot.
There's surprisingly very little that actually happens over the course of this book and the so-called mystery when it comes to Jay's missing sister, Nic. I wasn't too keen on this book in the beginning because it reminded me of Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman in how hard it tried to be Black. It starts out with Jay flirting with a Latina chick and their entire relationship seemed more stereotypical than anything, which made me super happy when the real romance was between Jay and the preacher's daughter, Riley.
But all the clues Riley and Jayson follow in trying to track down Nicole are useless dead ends and I just wonder why Jayson had such a little part in actually solving anything. By the end, it's more like he just happened to be there and know the right people to get things figured out.
I appreciate this book, but it pains me because I can imagine what it could've been. The whole time we're searching for a girl we really know nothing about first hand, and have never met. It would've been perfect if Harris broke up the chapters with memories of Nic and Jayson so we got to know her gradually and our heart was more and more tied to finding her. Instead, we really only get to know her in the end when she's found and it's kind of lackluster.
Long story short, I like the ideas that were present in this book, but it lacked in execution. Regardless, I look forward to Harris' next work, because I think she'll improve, and I can tell her heart is rooted in Black America.
There's surprisingly very little that actually happens over the course of this book and the so-called mystery when it comes to Jay's missing sister, Nic. I wasn't too keen on this book in the beginning because it reminded me of Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman in how hard it tried to be Black. It starts out with Jay flirting with a Latina chick and their entire relationship seemed more stereotypical than anything, which made me super happy when the real romance was between Jay and the preacher's daughter, Riley.
But all the clues Riley and Jayson follow in trying to track down Nicole are useless dead ends and I just wonder why Jayson had such a little part in actually solving anything. By the end, it's more like he just happened to be there and know the right people to get things figured out.
I appreciate this book, but it pains me because I can imagine what it could've been. The whole time we're searching for a girl we really know nothing about first hand, and have never met. It would've been perfect if Harris broke up the chapters with memories of Nic and Jayson so we got to know her gradually and our heart was more and more tied to finding her. Instead, we really only get to know her in the end when she's found and it's kind of lackluster.
Long story short, I like the ideas that were present in this book, but it lacked in execution. Regardless, I look forward to Harris' next work, because I think she'll improve, and I can tell her heart is rooted in Black America.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2022
“Cops don’t listen to guys like me, and they damn sure don’t care about girls like Nic.”
I went into this story not realizing that it was YA, and we all know how I feel about YA. I think the only major "complaint" I had about this book, simply because it was YA, is the fact that Jay would never swear, I might end up adding FICK to my vocabulary though.
This story had you guessing what in the world happened to Nicole Murphy. Jay, her brother, even thought that his sister ended up skipping town to get high and forget all her responsibilities.
But after a few days, Jay realizes that something is seriously wrong when Nic doesn't turn up at home. He's now 2 days deep in covering for his sister and has no leads as to where she might go. Just the last phone call he had with her when he just figured she was high and at a party. This is the last moment anyone had seen or spoken to Nicole.
Jay hits many roadblocks when trying to report his sister missing to the police, everyone knows that she hands out with the local dealer, and well "she probably got what she had coming to her."
This book discusses not only the issues throughout our world, but how horrifying it can be to not be taken seriously because of the color of your skin. While this may have been a work of fiction, I have no doubt that similar situations like this happen every day.
We need to change, period.
I went into this story not realizing that it was YA, and we all know how I feel about YA. I think the only major "complaint" I had about this book, simply because it was YA, is the fact that Jay would never swear, I might end up adding FICK to my vocabulary though.
This story had you guessing what in the world happened to Nicole Murphy. Jay, her brother, even thought that his sister ended up skipping town to get high and forget all her responsibilities.
But after a few days, Jay realizes that something is seriously wrong when Nic doesn't turn up at home. He's now 2 days deep in covering for his sister and has no leads as to where she might go. Just the last phone call he had with her when he just figured she was high and at a party. This is the last moment anyone had seen or spoken to Nicole.
Jay hits many roadblocks when trying to report his sister missing to the police, everyone knows that she hands out with the local dealer, and well "she probably got what she had coming to her."
This book discusses not only the issues throughout our world, but how horrifying it can be to not be taken seriously because of the color of your skin. While this may have been a work of fiction, I have no doubt that similar situations like this happen every day.
We need to change, period.
March 14, 2024
I originally began reading this book because I was interested in having my high school students read it for one of our units. Now, I was a bit taken aback by the amount of profanity in the novel—which sometimes adds to the characters—but a lot of the time it seems unnecessary and excessive for a young adult novel. Aside from that, it is a story that is worthy of reading.
It’s a coming of age story that reads almost like a movie. So, this is great for students or teens who struggle with reading, or typically are disinterested in it.
The author really depicts life of inner city Black children in a nuanced way. We get to see variations of Black young adults, Black families, Black friendships and relationships. Black people are not monolithic, so I found it refreshing to have a spectrum of our stories told in this book. Lately, many young adult novels with main Black characters seem to center on victimhood, but not this one—which I love! Yes, Jay faces obstacles in his search for his sister, but don’t be mistaken: he is sensitive yet resilient, compassionate and introspective. His transformation is inspiring and well-developed!
Overall, a great book full of so many life lessons on: love, friendship, self-confidence, family, race, fear, and so much more. If you don’t mind the profanity, definitely worth the read!
It’s a coming of age story that reads almost like a movie. So, this is great for students or teens who struggle with reading, or typically are disinterested in it.
The author really depicts life of inner city Black children in a nuanced way. We get to see variations of Black young adults, Black families, Black friendships and relationships. Black people are not monolithic, so I found it refreshing to have a spectrum of our stories told in this book. Lately, many young adult novels with main Black characters seem to center on victimhood, but not this one—which I love! Yes, Jay faces obstacles in his search for his sister, but don’t be mistaken: he is sensitive yet resilient, compassionate and introspective. His transformation is inspiring and well-developed!
Overall, a great book full of so many life lessons on: love, friendship, self-confidence, family, race, fear, and so much more. If you don’t mind the profanity, definitely worth the read!
January 31, 2021
When You Look Like Us by Pamela N. Harris is twisty and suspenseful but along with this there is a strong underlying element that explores the ongoing issues surrounding classism, racism and privilege. Jay and his sister, Nic live with their grandma, MiMi, since their dad passed and their mom went to prison. They’re a close-knit family but since Nic started dating local drug dealer, Javon, she’s changed. Staying out all night, skipping out on school and tripping on Bliss, so when she texts him one night from what sounds like a rager, Jay figures he’s had enough of bailing her out and ignores her the rest of the night. When Nic doesn’t show up to school the next day or home that next night, Jay realizes that Nic may be in trouble. From here, Jay, trying to protect MiMi, does his own sleuthing but even when he does decide to go to the police, he’s met with resistance because Nic isn’t the kind of girl that the cops put out an APB out on.
As much as this is a plot driven story, it is a strongly character driven, too. Jayson is a such a good kid, he works hard at school, he does other kids’ homework to earn some extra cash to help his MiMi retire somewhere amazing, you just can’t help but love him and root for him. Nic, too, is as much of a victim of her environment and those that would take advantage of that. The obstacles that Jay runs in to are heartbreaking, this kid is literally walking a line. Those in his neighborhood look at him with suspicion and the cops, those that are supposed to protect and serve, do the same. The media, too, who should’ve focused on helping to find a missing teen turned it into a side-show circus by placing blame on the victim. There’s a lot to absorb and process in When You Look Like Us and this is a book I’ll be recommending to a lot of people.
I want to thank @epicreads for gifting me this book and the author for writing it. This is a powerful book with deep insight and a message we all need to hear.
As much as this is a plot driven story, it is a strongly character driven, too. Jayson is a such a good kid, he works hard at school, he does other kids’ homework to earn some extra cash to help his MiMi retire somewhere amazing, you just can’t help but love him and root for him. Nic, too, is as much of a victim of her environment and those that would take advantage of that. The obstacles that Jay runs in to are heartbreaking, this kid is literally walking a line. Those in his neighborhood look at him with suspicion and the cops, those that are supposed to protect and serve, do the same. The media, too, who should’ve focused on helping to find a missing teen turned it into a side-show circus by placing blame on the victim. There’s a lot to absorb and process in When You Look Like Us and this is a book I’ll be recommending to a lot of people.
I want to thank @epicreads for gifting me this book and the author for writing it. This is a powerful book with deep insight and a message we all need to hear.
February 4, 2021
It is so good when you read about a book that not only the story and the characters felt so real and layered but also has a HUGE social commentary that makes you think even after you finish the last page
And that's exactly When You Look Like Us felt to me. Not only I could sense that every single character could be a real person, but the details and the commentary about skin color, racism and police work were on point.
I must say though that the thriller aspect of this book and the twist at the end of it were kinda underwhelming for me even though I truly appreciated all the background and the message that the author was trying to portrait by the disappearance of Nic.
Overall, totally worth the read and TOTALLY DESERVES MORE HYPE.
And that's exactly When You Look Like Us felt to me. Not only I could sense that every single character could be a real person, but the details and the commentary about skin color, racism and police work were on point.
I must say though that the thriller aspect of this book and the twist at the end of it were kinda underwhelming for me even though I truly appreciated all the background and the message that the author was trying to portrait by the disappearance of Nic.
Overall, totally worth the read and TOTALLY DESERVES MORE HYPE.
January 16, 2021
This was more of a 3.50 read 🚨
Jay lives with his grandma and sister Nicole on the poor side of Newport News, Va called the Ducks. Jay is smart, studious, and has a bright future ahead of him despite having been dealt a rough hand. His sister Nicole has been his rock through their difficult path, however recently Nicole found herself dating the neighborhood drug dealer. Then one night Nicole calls Jay and is really vague and then he doesn’t see or hear from her for days. People in the neighborhood are dead and Nicole is still nowhere to be found. After going to the police for help, Jay realizes if anyone is going to find his sister it will have to be him.
I enjoyed this book. It read a lot like The Hate You Give. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. However, the story just kind of drug on after the middle. It was very engaging at the beginning but then just kept failing to produce the next big scene.
Jay lives with his grandma and sister Nicole on the poor side of Newport News, Va called the Ducks. Jay is smart, studious, and has a bright future ahead of him despite having been dealt a rough hand. His sister Nicole has been his rock through their difficult path, however recently Nicole found herself dating the neighborhood drug dealer. Then one night Nicole calls Jay and is really vague and then he doesn’t see or hear from her for days. People in the neighborhood are dead and Nicole is still nowhere to be found. After going to the police for help, Jay realizes if anyone is going to find his sister it will have to be him.
I enjoyed this book. It read a lot like The Hate You Give. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. However, the story just kind of drug on after the middle. It was very engaging at the beginning but then just kept failing to produce the next big scene.
February 24, 2025
Really 3.5 stars because this book had a slow start to me, but rounding up because I usually do for YA books (understanding I’m not the intended audience)
Once I got about halfway through, the storyline/suspense picked up and I finished the last 100 pages in one sitting (impressive considering I had to push to read more than one chapter at a time during the first half).
There were moments of unbelievability in some character arcs, but overall this book provided a wide range of characters/personalities/circumstances.
I think this would be a great read for a high school student.
Once I got about halfway through, the storyline/suspense picked up and I finished the last 100 pages in one sitting (impressive considering I had to push to read more than one chapter at a time during the first half).
There were moments of unbelievability in some character arcs, but overall this book provided a wide range of characters/personalities/circumstances.
I think this would be a great read for a high school student.
February 19, 2022
This is a good YA mystery. Jay and Nic are close siblings but have a troubled past. Nic goes missing and Jay tries to find out what happened to her. There are good twists and turns to keep readers engaged. I recommend this book to all high school readers. Well written.
Read
January 11, 2021Graded By: Stephanie
Cover Story: Mixed Media Art Project
BFF Charm: Big Sister
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: Black Lives Matter
Bonus Factors: Brothers & Sisters
Relationship Status: LYLAB(rother)
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Mixed Media Art Project
BFF Charm: Big Sister
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: Black Lives Matter
Bonus Factors: Brothers & Sisters
Relationship Status: LYLAB(rother)
Read the full book report here.
December 29, 2020
3.5 stars*
Thanks to the publisher for sending me an arc copy!
I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected to. I expected it to be slow and frankly boring, but it was anything but. It actually had me not wanting to put it down, which doesn’t happen a lot to me.
I became connected to the characters. I wanted to know what was going to happen to them. I loved the development and range of relationships in this book. The romance in this book was unexpected but thoroughly loved. We had deep family and friend relationships that built up the story. Everything was very life-like.
The pace was fast, and I was never bored with events. The timing and structuring of the plot was done very well. This book has the right amount of impactfulness and entertainment. There is a lot to take away from this story; it’s very inciteful.
I enjoyed the writing style of the book. It didn’t use complicated words to try and be fancy. It was easy to read but still gave me enough detail to be able to fully understand events and descriptions. The only thing I don’t like is that this book does curse a good deal. I would say it’s not YA. However, there isn’t really any adult themes except drugs.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed my time and I’m glad I read this book before the end of the year.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me an arc copy!
I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected to. I expected it to be slow and frankly boring, but it was anything but. It actually had me not wanting to put it down, which doesn’t happen a lot to me.
I became connected to the characters. I wanted to know what was going to happen to them. I loved the development and range of relationships in this book. The romance in this book was unexpected but thoroughly loved. We had deep family and friend relationships that built up the story. Everything was very life-like.
The pace was fast, and I was never bored with events. The timing and structuring of the plot was done very well. This book has the right amount of impactfulness and entertainment. There is a lot to take away from this story; it’s very inciteful.
I enjoyed the writing style of the book. It didn’t use complicated words to try and be fancy. It was easy to read but still gave me enough detail to be able to fully understand events and descriptions. The only thing I don’t like is that this book does curse a good deal. I would say it’s not YA. However, there isn’t really any adult themes except drugs.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed my time and I’m glad I read this book before the end of the year.
June 7, 2022
I thought this was a really interesting book. I didn’t know where it was going or how it would turn out the whole time, but the ending was fascinating. An honest look at life for a lot of America. Bought this one for my classroom library and can’t wait to recommend it to students next year!
December 4, 2021
Richie’s Picks: WHEN YOU LOOK LIKE US by Pamela N. Harris, HarperCollins/Quill Tree, January 2021, 368p., ISBN: 978-0-06-294589-1
“I hope you hear inside my voice of sorrow
And that it motivates you to make a better tomorrow”
— Stevie Wonder, “Living for the City” (1973)
Just after 9/11, I got involved in booktalking and reading aloud to a bunch of eighth graders at the local middle school. I was then on the cusp of beginning a three-year gig as part of what was then known as BBYA–YALSA’s Best Books for Young Adults committee.
I got a lot of appreciation for volunteering at the middle school. The father of one of the eighth graders–a tech guy–set me up with my first Richie’s Picks website for free. Back then, you needed to know some coding in order to post, so a nifty tech-ed lesson came with the deal. Reading my butt off for BBYA, while regularly networking with those students over the next few years, gave me a pretty good grasp on what turns on middle school readers. Including the reluctant ones.
“That’s when I notice the two white guys behind him, crackling like he’s the star of some Seth Rogen movie. They’re pretty nondescript–just Lackey No. 1 and Lackey No. 2. Both wearing the same hoodie as their douchey ringleader. The earthy smell of bliss seeping out of their pores, almost overtaking the Pine-Sol cologne. They probably scored in my neighborhood. Guys like them always perch in front of Javon’s building, not willing to step outside of their fancy cars and walk in their fancy shoes to the stoop. Instead, they demand full service like they’re ordering burgers at a Sonic Drive-In. Most don’t bother to look my way, but the ones that do give me the same you-must-bow-down-to-me head nod like these corn nuts. Great. Now I have to catch an extra dose of that condescension working the night shift at Taco Bell, Fick my life.”
WHEN YOU LOOK LIKE US by Pamela N. Harris is a book I would have enthusiastically booktalked to those eighth-graders, and would have enthusiastically fought for in the BBYA committee room. It’s a heck of a story–a can’t-put-it-down contemporary tale with a first-person narrator with whom many middle school students will readily connect.
Jay Murphy is a black high school junior living in a tough part of Newport News, Virginia. His dad is dead. His mom is in prison. The only reason that Jay’s actually got a shot at a real future, rather than being dead, homeless. or a criminal, is that his health-challenged paternal grandmother MiMi has taken on raising him and his sister Nicole. Talk about, “There but for the grace of God go I.”
Jay is a good kid who understands full well that he’d have been sunk without MiMi. He’s hollowed out a hole in his mattress where he’s secretly squirreling away every spare buck he can scam so that there will be a retirement fund for MiMi once he and Nic are able to stand on their own two feet. (It’s certainly not ethical for Jay to market himself as an essay-writer-for-hire, but there’s a good argument to be made here about the end justifying the means. And it shows Jay to be a very good student.)
But then, Nicole mysteriously disappears. WHEN YOU LOOK LIKE US is a mystery/thriller that takes place over the next couple of weeks, as the clock ticks down on the hope that Jay will ever again see his beloved sister alive.
The author has made the book acceptable to middle schooler parents and librarians by employing euphemisms in place of the swear words and making up fictional slang terms for the drugs that are part and parcel of Jay’s neighborhood. Jay’s black neighborhood.
And why are there neighborhoods like Jay’s? This is the important question that will hopefully lead some young readers to learn about the history of housing discrimination in America. And, as many of us know all to well, housing discrimination in America, just like policing discrimination in America, is a current issue, not a history lesson.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
https://twitter.com/richiespicks
richiepartington@gmail.com
“I hope you hear inside my voice of sorrow
And that it motivates you to make a better tomorrow”
— Stevie Wonder, “Living for the City” (1973)
Just after 9/11, I got involved in booktalking and reading aloud to a bunch of eighth graders at the local middle school. I was then on the cusp of beginning a three-year gig as part of what was then known as BBYA–YALSA’s Best Books for Young Adults committee.
I got a lot of appreciation for volunteering at the middle school. The father of one of the eighth graders–a tech guy–set me up with my first Richie’s Picks website for free. Back then, you needed to know some coding in order to post, so a nifty tech-ed lesson came with the deal. Reading my butt off for BBYA, while regularly networking with those students over the next few years, gave me a pretty good grasp on what turns on middle school readers. Including the reluctant ones.
“That’s when I notice the two white guys behind him, crackling like he’s the star of some Seth Rogen movie. They’re pretty nondescript–just Lackey No. 1 and Lackey No. 2. Both wearing the same hoodie as their douchey ringleader. The earthy smell of bliss seeping out of their pores, almost overtaking the Pine-Sol cologne. They probably scored in my neighborhood. Guys like them always perch in front of Javon’s building, not willing to step outside of their fancy cars and walk in their fancy shoes to the stoop. Instead, they demand full service like they’re ordering burgers at a Sonic Drive-In. Most don’t bother to look my way, but the ones that do give me the same you-must-bow-down-to-me head nod like these corn nuts. Great. Now I have to catch an extra dose of that condescension working the night shift at Taco Bell, Fick my life.”
WHEN YOU LOOK LIKE US by Pamela N. Harris is a book I would have enthusiastically booktalked to those eighth-graders, and would have enthusiastically fought for in the BBYA committee room. It’s a heck of a story–a can’t-put-it-down contemporary tale with a first-person narrator with whom many middle school students will readily connect.
Jay Murphy is a black high school junior living in a tough part of Newport News, Virginia. His dad is dead. His mom is in prison. The only reason that Jay’s actually got a shot at a real future, rather than being dead, homeless. or a criminal, is that his health-challenged paternal grandmother MiMi has taken on raising him and his sister Nicole. Talk about, “There but for the grace of God go I.”
Jay is a good kid who understands full well that he’d have been sunk without MiMi. He’s hollowed out a hole in his mattress where he’s secretly squirreling away every spare buck he can scam so that there will be a retirement fund for MiMi once he and Nic are able to stand on their own two feet. (It’s certainly not ethical for Jay to market himself as an essay-writer-for-hire, but there’s a good argument to be made here about the end justifying the means. And it shows Jay to be a very good student.)
But then, Nicole mysteriously disappears. WHEN YOU LOOK LIKE US is a mystery/thriller that takes place over the next couple of weeks, as the clock ticks down on the hope that Jay will ever again see his beloved sister alive.
The author has made the book acceptable to middle schooler parents and librarians by employing euphemisms in place of the swear words and making up fictional slang terms for the drugs that are part and parcel of Jay’s neighborhood. Jay’s black neighborhood.
And why are there neighborhoods like Jay’s? This is the important question that will hopefully lead some young readers to learn about the history of housing discrimination in America. And, as many of us know all to well, housing discrimination in America, just like policing discrimination in America, is a current issue, not a history lesson.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
https://twitter.com/richiespicks
richiepartington@gmail.com
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