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Home Home
Fans of Monday's Not Coming and Girl in Pieces will love this award-winning novel about a girl on the verge of losing herself and the unlikely journey to recovery after she is removed from anything and everyone she knows to be home.
Moving from Trinidad to Canada wasn't her idea. But after being hospitalized for depression, her mother sees it as the only option. Now, living with an estranged aunt she barely remembers and dealing with her "troubles" in a foreign country, she feels more lost than ever.
Everything in Canada is cold and confusing. No one says hello, no one walks anywhere, and bus trips are never-ending and loud. She just wants to be home home, in Trinidad, where her only friend is going to school and Sunday church service like she used to do.
But this new home also brings unexpected surprises: the chance at a family that loves unconditionally, the possibility of new friends, and the promise of a hopeful future. Though she doesn't see it yet, Canada is a place where she can feel at home--if she can only find the courage to be honest with herself.
Moving from Trinidad to Canada wasn't her idea. But after being hospitalized for depression, her mother sees it as the only option. Now, living with an estranged aunt she barely remembers and dealing with her "troubles" in a foreign country, she feels more lost than ever.
Everything in Canada is cold and confusing. No one says hello, no one walks anywhere, and bus trips are never-ending and loud. She just wants to be home home, in Trinidad, where her only friend is going to school and Sunday church service like she used to do.
But this new home also brings unexpected surprises: the chance at a family that loves unconditionally, the possibility of new friends, and the promise of a hopeful future. Though she doesn't see it yet, Canada is a place where she can feel at home--if she can only find the courage to be honest with herself.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
25 people are currently reading
2096 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Allen-Agostini
13 books144 followersLisa Allen-Agostini is a poet, playwright, and fiction writer from Trinidad and Tobago. She is the author of a children's novel, The Chalice Project (forthcoming, 2008). An award-winning journalist, she is the Internet editor and a columnist with the Trinidad Guardian.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
June 1, 2023
A nice, light novel about a 14-year-old Trinidadian girl, Kayla, trying to adapt to life with chronic depression after making a suicide attempt. Her cold-as-ice mother doesn’t understand or know what to do with this, so she calls her sister in Canada and dumps her with them for a while. She’s shipped off to Edmonton to visit with Aunt Jillian and her partner, Julie. Quite a juxtaposition there! Jillian and Julie lavish Kayla with unlimited love and attention. They’re overheard saying they wished that she was their daughter! She does well with them, until Mom shows up.
4 “Just-what-I-needed” stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“It’s time for you to get back to your real life. You have to go back to school. Your place is at home.”And there you have it, folks.🙄 That says it all. Luckily it gets a little better from there, but I won’t spoil it. If you enjoy YA now and then, I'd recommend it!
“My real life is in a place where nobody wants me around, nobody understands me, and nobody really cares if I live or die?” I asked, the light of challenge sparking in my dark eyes.
My mother was outraged. “What nonsense! What self-indulgent nonsense!”
4 “Just-what-I-needed” stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 10, 2020
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Childrens for providing an ARC of Home Home for an honest review.
Kayla deals with Anxiety and depression. After overdosing on some pills Kayla is sent to Canada to stay with her aunt Jillian and her wife Julie. As Kayla stays in Canada with her aunts she starts to write in a diary all her thoughts and feeling.
I found this book informational and a great read for middle grade on up.
Kayla deals with Anxiety and depression. After overdosing on some pills Kayla is sent to Canada to stay with her aunt Jillian and her wife Julie. As Kayla stays in Canada with her aunts she starts to write in a diary all her thoughts and feeling.
I found this book informational and a great read for middle grade on up.
September 19, 2020
Home-Home is about a trinidadian girl who deals with depression and extreme anxiety and who after an incident is sent to temporarily live with her aunts in Canada. In this book, we talk about the tabu that there is in Trinidad about mental health and about being queer. We also see how she didn't seem to fit in because she didn't care about the standards of beauty.
What can I say about this book? Well, sadly I did not connect enough with the main character to feel for her. I wanted to care because I've been there but I just didn't. It wasn't until after the 50 pages mark that it got better and by better I mean it went from 2 stars to 3 stars and this book is 100 pages long. This book could've been better if it wasn't because it was too short to dig deeper into the themes. In the last fifty pages, we got a tiny bit of drama but not enough to care about it and in those same fifty pages, everything was resolved. Overall, this book was a good read but nothing wow.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
What can I say about this book? Well, sadly I did not connect enough with the main character to feel for her. I wanted to care because I've been there but I just didn't. It wasn't until after the 50 pages mark that it got better and by better I mean it went from 2 stars to 3 stars and this book is 100 pages long. This book could've been better if it wasn't because it was too short to dig deeper into the themes. In the last fifty pages, we got a tiny bit of drama but not enough to care about it and in those same fifty pages, everything was resolved. Overall, this book was a good read but nothing wow.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
June 22, 2020
In Home-Home by Lisa Allen-Agostini we meet fourteen year old Kayla who is currently living with her Aunty and her partner. Kayla was sent to Canada after being hospitalized after a suicidal attempt. Kayla was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, a diagnosis her mother does not believe is a “real thing” so she sent Kayla away until she “comes back to her mind”. Kayla must now make a “home” for herself in Canada, in the cold, with her Aunty who she didn’t have a strong relationship with.
Kayla find Canada is totally different from her home home, Trinidad and Tobago, so much so, she spends a lot of time comparing it. Her only friend lives back in Trinidad and they speak on a regular basis, she is the only one who can talk Kayla back when the world feels out of control. Trying to manage her diagnosis while getting acquainted with her new life is a big ask, one Kayla is not sure she is able to answer.
A very short but impactful read. I enjoyed reading about a theme we don’t explore a lot in the Caribbean context and that is mental illness. I think the author did an amazing job of making this theme the forefront of the novel. I also loved the exploration of the mother-daughter theme- I thought more could have gone into this but I was impressed with what I read.
A short but relevant read.
Kayla find Canada is totally different from her home home, Trinidad and Tobago, so much so, she spends a lot of time comparing it. Her only friend lives back in Trinidad and they speak on a regular basis, she is the only one who can talk Kayla back when the world feels out of control. Trying to manage her diagnosis while getting acquainted with her new life is a big ask, one Kayla is not sure she is able to answer.
A very short but impactful read. I enjoyed reading about a theme we don’t explore a lot in the Caribbean context and that is mental illness. I think the author did an amazing job of making this theme the forefront of the novel. I also loved the exploration of the mother-daughter theme- I thought more could have gone into this but I was impressed with what I read.
A short but relevant read.
June 9, 2022
My heart 😭. Home Home is a sliver of a first person narrative about almost 15 year old Kayla whose mother sends her to Canada to stay with her aunt after a suicide attempt. Another treasure gifted to us with the help of the CODE Burt Award, this is the frankest, most detailed portrayal of a mental illness in a Black Caribbean teen I've ever read.
As short as it was, the simple, clear 1st person narration forged an instant connection between me and the protagonist. Amongst that the author still complicated the other characters wonderfully, from our gorgeous interracial (Black + South Asian) lesbian mothers to rigid Cynthia. There is more to everyone than the obvious and I wanted to tug on those threads to get more, especially about Julie and her obsessive cleaning...
Allen-Agostini included a multitude of topics including mental illness and healthcare with kids *and* adults; queer love + queer families; the inequitable, segregated colonial school system; colourism; teen pregnancy; religion; human trafficking...mi probably left something out.
At the centre of it all is Kayla. I loved that she was allowed to be ordinary. Even as others limited prejudices around mental illness impacted her, she too had her own misconceptions to unlearn about others. I loved that Allen-Agostini took her to a place where, faced with the possibility of returning to a more unsupportive environment in Trinidad, it would be harder for her but she would still be okay.
I need a Kayla update! I'm dead curious about the US edition in which the author may have expanded on the Cynthia-Kayla relationship.
As short as it was, the simple, clear 1st person narration forged an instant connection between me and the protagonist. Amongst that the author still complicated the other characters wonderfully, from our gorgeous interracial (Black + South Asian) lesbian mothers to rigid Cynthia. There is more to everyone than the obvious and I wanted to tug on those threads to get more, especially about Julie and her obsessive cleaning...
Allen-Agostini included a multitude of topics including mental illness and healthcare with kids *and* adults; queer love + queer families; the inequitable, segregated colonial school system; colourism; teen pregnancy; religion; human trafficking...mi probably left something out.
At the centre of it all is Kayla. I loved that she was allowed to be ordinary. Even as others limited prejudices around mental illness impacted her, she too had her own misconceptions to unlearn about others. I loved that Allen-Agostini took her to a place where, faced with the possibility of returning to a more unsupportive environment in Trinidad, it would be harder for her but she would still be okay.
I need a Kayla update! I'm dead curious about the US edition in which the author may have expanded on the Cynthia-Kayla relationship.
August 12, 2018
Home Home by Lisa Allen-Agostini is the 2017 third place winner of the Burt Award for Caribbean Young Adult Literature.
At just ninety pages, it is a quick but enlightening read about a fourteen year old girl's struggle with mental illness. Kayla, a Trinidadian residing in Trinidad, is shipped to care of her aunt in Canada after a failed suicide attempt. Her aunt and her lesbian live-in partner welcome Kayla as their guest with an option to stay on a more permanent basis.
The sexuality of the couple is of no relevance to Kayla; they are stable and very supportive. Without reason, she is guilt-riddled about burdening the childless ladies especially because they were not obligated to accept such a huge responsibility. Kayla's mother had always been ignorant and in denial about her condition hence sending her away. As a result, their mother-daughter relationship continued to be strained and dispassionate.
Kayla forms the cutest crush of the son of her aunt's ex-boyfriend. They soon bond over their untraditional lives and are able to give each other a safe environment to share their truths.
Home Home was a good read that shines a spotlight on two taboo topics, homosexuality and mental illness. It was well written with simple vocabulary appropriate for middle-grade students and teens.
At just ninety pages, it is a quick but enlightening read about a fourteen year old girl's struggle with mental illness. Kayla, a Trinidadian residing in Trinidad, is shipped to care of her aunt in Canada after a failed suicide attempt. Her aunt and her lesbian live-in partner welcome Kayla as their guest with an option to stay on a more permanent basis.
The sexuality of the couple is of no relevance to Kayla; they are stable and very supportive. Without reason, she is guilt-riddled about burdening the childless ladies especially because they were not obligated to accept such a huge responsibility. Kayla's mother had always been ignorant and in denial about her condition hence sending her away. As a result, their mother-daughter relationship continued to be strained and dispassionate.
Kayla forms the cutest crush of the son of her aunt's ex-boyfriend. They soon bond over their untraditional lives and are able to give each other a safe environment to share their truths.
Home Home was a good read that shines a spotlight on two taboo topics, homosexuality and mental illness. It was well written with simple vocabulary appropriate for middle-grade students and teens.
November 17, 2024
2024 reads: 304/250
content warnings: mental illness, suicide attempt, homophobia, emotional abuse, racism
after kayla was hospitalized for depression, her mother shipped her off from trinidad to spend some time with her aunts in canada. in a foreign country with her estranged aunt, kayla feels more lost than ever. however, with this comes new opportunities to build familial, friendly, and maybe even romantic relationships.
this novel was short and sweet. so many difficult topics were discussed, but despite the book’s briefness, i think these topics were handled well. while i would’ve loved spending more time with these characters and this story, i still appreciated what we got. i especially appreciated the depiction of kayla’s relationship with her mother. it was pretty complicated, and i understood where kayla was coming from. i think the way this played out went well.
overall, this was a lovely book that realistically showed mental illness and familial relationships. i would recommend this to readers who enjoy contemporary YA novels.
content warnings: mental illness, suicide attempt, homophobia, emotional abuse, racism
after kayla was hospitalized for depression, her mother shipped her off from trinidad to spend some time with her aunts in canada. in a foreign country with her estranged aunt, kayla feels more lost than ever. however, with this comes new opportunities to build familial, friendly, and maybe even romantic relationships.
this novel was short and sweet. so many difficult topics were discussed, but despite the book’s briefness, i think these topics were handled well. while i would’ve loved spending more time with these characters and this story, i still appreciated what we got. i especially appreciated the depiction of kayla’s relationship with her mother. it was pretty complicated, and i understood where kayla was coming from. i think the way this played out went well.
overall, this was a lovely book that realistically showed mental illness and familial relationships. i would recommend this to readers who enjoy contemporary YA novels.
May 29, 2018
There's a point towards the end of the first chapter of Home Home where I got The Feeling. You'll know what The Feeling is; it's that moment when you read something, maybe a word or a sentence or a metaphor, whatever, but you know that it's good. Your spine tingles. Something settles inside your head. The conscious recognition of skill, there, bubbling beneath the surface. The realisation that you're in good hands.
Home Home is the story of a depressed Trinidadian teenager, Kayla, who is sent to live with her Aunt in Canada. Whilst there, Kayla must come to terms with her mental health, her new family and indeed her new home. I received it for review from the publisher and was grateful for the offer: I want to find these sorts of books and see them participating within the world, and Home Home more than holds its own. It's worthy of attention on a thousand different levels.
My only caveat with Home Home is that it is a relatively slender piece, and as such seems to almost finish before it starts. There's an undoubted element of frustration there that I need to acknowledge because, I suspect, were it given some more space, this could be something kind of great. At present, it feels like there's not enough space for it to fully explore its potential but, equally, it offers a ton of potential for follow up activities and close reading exercises.
I also don't want to deny the fact that what is in Home Home is kind of fascinating, occasionally rather beautiful, and kind of great. Home Home exists somewhere between raw, Tumblr-esque truth and a whole hearted stream of consciousness vibe. There's power here, particular in its honest and vivid truth and the way that it sometimes tumbles together and makes itself known at the least opportune moments. It feels in fact like something that you might find tucked away on a blog somewhere by somebody who feels the need to express themselves and to feel out the edges of that expression, and in the process to find themselves. I don't think that's a bad legacy for a book to have.
Home Home is the story of a depressed Trinidadian teenager, Kayla, who is sent to live with her Aunt in Canada. Whilst there, Kayla must come to terms with her mental health, her new family and indeed her new home. I received it for review from the publisher and was grateful for the offer: I want to find these sorts of books and see them participating within the world, and Home Home more than holds its own. It's worthy of attention on a thousand different levels.
My only caveat with Home Home is that it is a relatively slender piece, and as such seems to almost finish before it starts. There's an undoubted element of frustration there that I need to acknowledge because, I suspect, were it given some more space, this could be something kind of great. At present, it feels like there's not enough space for it to fully explore its potential but, equally, it offers a ton of potential for follow up activities and close reading exercises.
I also don't want to deny the fact that what is in Home Home is kind of fascinating, occasionally rather beautiful, and kind of great. Home Home exists somewhere between raw, Tumblr-esque truth and a whole hearted stream of consciousness vibe. There's power here, particular in its honest and vivid truth and the way that it sometimes tumbles together and makes itself known at the least opportune moments. It feels in fact like something that you might find tucked away on a blog somewhere by somebody who feels the need to express themselves and to feel out the edges of that expression, and in the process to find themselves. I don't think that's a bad legacy for a book to have.
September 24, 2022
Home Home by Lisa Allen-Agostini is an excellent book about a girl from Trinidad who learns to deal with her mental illness.
This contemporary read will give your heart a squeeze and leave you wanting for more. I fell in love with these characters and only wanted to hear more about them. Lisa did such a magical job of showing us inside the head of a teenage girl and giving us insights into Trinidad's culture. I felt such a great connection with the struggles of mental health and not feeling like you fit in. Also - LGBTQ+ representation!
Such a wonderful and easy read that is a must read on my list!
Four out of five stars!
This contemporary read will give your heart a squeeze and leave you wanting for more. I fell in love with these characters and only wanted to hear more about them. Lisa did such a magical job of showing us inside the head of a teenage girl and giving us insights into Trinidad's culture. I felt such a great connection with the struggles of mental health and not feeling like you fit in. Also - LGBTQ+ representation!
Such a wonderful and easy read that is a must read on my list!
Four out of five stars!
October 22, 2018
It's a quick read and it's a great book for teenagers and young kids to have a go at during school's break. Home, Home definitely addresses quite simply an issue that's often overlooked or shoved under the carpet in some Caribbean homes.
April 16, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 beautiful stars
I loved this book!!! This story was so adorable and should be read by every person who has ever migrated.
The on-page representation of anxiety and depression, along with an awkward mother-daughter dynamic in a Trinibagonian household, was masterfully done. I was here for the friendship, new beginnings, the Trini lingo/references, the non-linear journey to healing, the teenage girl finding her voice outside of her head, the mother that did what she had to do without complaint, and the family that stepped in to create a safe landing place.
I thought the romance was super sweet, innocent, and appropriate for any teen who reads this book. It gave me flashbacks to that time in my own life.
I felt so seen while reading this novel and experienced a range of emotions, from sadness to cackling out loud!
I couldn't believe my shock when I realized I didn't even know the MCs name until I got to the last page 😂😂
All in all, this was an excellent presentation of hard topics served in a digestible and compulsive storytelling format. I only wished this book was longer!!
I loved this book!!! This story was so adorable and should be read by every person who has ever migrated.
The on-page representation of anxiety and depression, along with an awkward mother-daughter dynamic in a Trinibagonian household, was masterfully done. I was here for the friendship, new beginnings, the Trini lingo/references, the non-linear journey to healing, the teenage girl finding her voice outside of her head, the mother that did what she had to do without complaint, and the family that stepped in to create a safe landing place.
I thought the romance was super sweet, innocent, and appropriate for any teen who reads this book. It gave me flashbacks to that time in my own life.
I felt so seen while reading this novel and experienced a range of emotions, from sadness to cackling out loud!
I couldn't believe my shock when I realized I didn't even know the MCs name until I got to the last page 😂😂
All in all, this was an excellent presentation of hard topics served in a digestible and compulsive storytelling format. I only wished this book was longer!!
October 8, 2022
The fact that I read this whole book and didn’t realize that I never knew the main character’s name until the end is beyond me. This book has some major trigger warnings, so please check that before you read this book. I will say that I loved the fact that the main character got to live the life that she desired in the end and that she’s on the road to becoming a better person for her well-being. Sometimes we all have to step out of the place we always considered home to realize that our true home can be in another space or in this case another country.
May 7, 2023
This was more of a 3.25 stars for me (when is Goodreads going to get fractions of stars?) only because I felt it was a bit preachy at times. I did like the main character, and loved her Aunts Julie and Jillian. I also loved her friends (Akilah and Josh both) and fully understood the complications of her relationship with her mom. I wish this book had been published and I had been able to read it in middle/high school! Looking back on that time period of my life, I don’t remember many books on depression/anxiety where the main character is going through the healing process during the timeframe of the book.
Like I said, sometimes it did feel a bit like the author was trying to make a point a little too overtly (I felt this way when Josh was talking about his mom, his dialogue seemed a bit forced/fake to me for his age). But that didn’t severely detract from the story.
The only other thing I will say is, I don’t think we ever knew the full first name of the main character until the LAST PAGE. Did we know her name was Kayla? Because when I read that sentence I was like, wait who is kayla?? Seems like a major misstep on the author’s part. Nicknames are fine and using the full name can be a powerful tool in showing character growth and development but not when we literally do not know her name.
I’d still recommend! Especially for people wanting to read about depression/anxiety/diaspora in teenagers.
Like I said, sometimes it did feel a bit like the author was trying to make a point a little too overtly (I felt this way when Josh was talking about his mom, his dialogue seemed a bit forced/fake to me for his age). But that didn’t severely detract from the story.
The only other thing I will say is, I don’t think we ever knew the full first name of the main character until the LAST PAGE. Did we know her name was Kayla? Because when I read that sentence I was like, wait who is kayla?? Seems like a major misstep on the author’s part. Nicknames are fine and using the full name can be a powerful tool in showing character growth and development but not when we literally do not know her name.
I’d still recommend! Especially for people wanting to read about depression/anxiety/diaspora in teenagers.
May 28, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. I'll post that review upon publication.
Updated 5/27/20:
3 stars
When the novel begins, readers learn that Kayla, the m.c., has recently moved from Trinidad to Edmonton. It's apparent, due to an early panic attack, that Kayla is struggling with more than her recent relocation. In fact, Kayla is now living with her aunts after attempting suicide while under her mother's care (a term I'll use loosely here since her mother isn't actually the most caring person).
My favorite parts of the novel are Kayla's periodic journal entries. In this therapeutic exercise, she reveals more personal information, which makes it easier to connect with her and understand her actions and motivations. The relationship between Kayla and her aunts runs a close second.
I did not love the way in which a potential romantic partner served as a partial "cure" for Kayla's depression. It's possible to be in a fantastic relationship and still experience mental health issues and vice versa. I'm not sure this messaging is exactly on target for any reader, but especially for more impressionable teens. Yes, this development can be lumped in with everyone's goal of getting Kayla to experience the world more (shop, attend her aunts' BBQs, and work out), but this subplot didn't work for me. On a related note, I found the early scene with the cop so disturbing and was bothered by the way in which the adults seem to laugh it off ('oh, just flirty until they know your age' business). There's a rightfully sinister series of thoughts that lead into that scene, an interaction that is extremely uncomfortable, and then we just move on. What? Finally, I wanted to see Kayla's ideas surrounding the LGBTQ+ community evolve a bit faster than they did.
This work covers some essential issues, and Kayla and her aunts are quite admirable overall. I'd have liked to see some more development here as well as some more evolved considerations in the noted areas.
Updated 5/27/20:
3 stars
When the novel begins, readers learn that Kayla, the m.c., has recently moved from Trinidad to Edmonton. It's apparent, due to an early panic attack, that Kayla is struggling with more than her recent relocation. In fact, Kayla is now living with her aunts after attempting suicide while under her mother's care (a term I'll use loosely here since her mother isn't actually the most caring person).
My favorite parts of the novel are Kayla's periodic journal entries. In this therapeutic exercise, she reveals more personal information, which makes it easier to connect with her and understand her actions and motivations. The relationship between Kayla and her aunts runs a close second.
I did not love the way in which a potential romantic partner served as a partial "cure" for Kayla's depression. It's possible to be in a fantastic relationship and still experience mental health issues and vice versa. I'm not sure this messaging is exactly on target for any reader, but especially for more impressionable teens. Yes, this development can be lumped in with everyone's goal of getting Kayla to experience the world more (shop, attend her aunts' BBQs, and work out), but this subplot didn't work for me. On a related note, I found the early scene with the cop so disturbing and was bothered by the way in which the adults seem to laugh it off ('oh, just flirty until they know your age' business). There's a rightfully sinister series of thoughts that lead into that scene, an interaction that is extremely uncomfortable, and then we just move on. What? Finally, I wanted to see Kayla's ideas surrounding the LGBTQ+ community evolve a bit faster than they did.
This work covers some essential issues, and Kayla and her aunts are quite admirable overall. I'd have liked to see some more development here as well as some more evolved considerations in the noted areas.
December 11, 2019
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of HOME HOME by Lisa Allen-Agostini in exchange for my honest review.***
3.5 STARS
Sent from Trinidad to live in Canada with Aunt Jillian and her wife Julie, Kayla struggles with anxiety and depression and a distant relationship with her old-fashioned mother Cynthia. Kayla’s symptoms are so acute she’s nearly unable to function. Life in Canada is culture shock in terms of diversity and size adding to her feelings of overwhelming anxiety.
Lisa Allen-Agostini does a great job getting inside Kayla’s head and showing the difficulty of mental illness in a young teen with few coping skills. I could understand why young Kayla felt so unloved by her mother and out of place on an island of people who didn’t have open, nonjudgmental dialogue about mental illness. I wish Allen-Agostini had shown positive aspects of the country and people to give readers a more balanced view of Trinidad.
HOME HOME has wonderful diverse representation in terms of sexual orientation, race, mental health and family composition. I’m interested in seeing reviews from readers more familiar with Trinidad and people from the island.
Told over a period of two months, HOME HOME is a story that stands alone and also would be a great start of a series as Kayla’s journey toward improved mental health and recovery is a journey that will take years if not a lifetime.
I enjoyed HOME HOME, understood Kayla, loved the aunts and would eagerly read a sequel.
3.5 STARS
Sent from Trinidad to live in Canada with Aunt Jillian and her wife Julie, Kayla struggles with anxiety and depression and a distant relationship with her old-fashioned mother Cynthia. Kayla’s symptoms are so acute she’s nearly unable to function. Life in Canada is culture shock in terms of diversity and size adding to her feelings of overwhelming anxiety.
Lisa Allen-Agostini does a great job getting inside Kayla’s head and showing the difficulty of mental illness in a young teen with few coping skills. I could understand why young Kayla felt so unloved by her mother and out of place on an island of people who didn’t have open, nonjudgmental dialogue about mental illness. I wish Allen-Agostini had shown positive aspects of the country and people to give readers a more balanced view of Trinidad.
HOME HOME has wonderful diverse representation in terms of sexual orientation, race, mental health and family composition. I’m interested in seeing reviews from readers more familiar with Trinidad and people from the island.
Told over a period of two months, HOME HOME is a story that stands alone and also would be a great start of a series as Kayla’s journey toward improved mental health and recovery is a journey that will take years if not a lifetime.
I enjoyed HOME HOME, understood Kayla, loved the aunts and would eagerly read a sequel.
May 14, 2019
Imagine reading this while struggling through a depressive episode... I feel seen.
I wish it were longer.
I wish it were longer.
June 29, 2020
Aquest llibre et mostra com es conviu amb l'ansietat i la depressió crònica des del punt de vista d'una noia de 14 anys de Trinidad y Tobago durant uns mesos que viu amb les seves tietes bollis al Canadà.
És ideal si voleu explicar de manera senzilla com afecta la depressió al dia a dia d'algú, sobretot a gent jove.
A partir d'aquí, SPOILERS!
.
.
.
El shock cultural i el racisme que veiem a través dels ulls de la protagonista estan molt ben integrats, si bé m'ha donat la sensació que al final Canadà quedava una mica massa ben parat, com si Trinidad fos un lloc endarrerit o conservador mentre que Canadà tenen pocs prejudicis i són progres. Clar que aquesta és la impressió que rep la prota, pero també és amb la que ens quedem lis lectoris.
Un punt que no m'ha agradat és la relació mare-filla i com fins a cert punt s'excusa el maltracte físic i psicològic de la mare vers la prota. Hagués preferit que s'aprofundis més en això i que no es quedés tan a l'aire. Precisament l'intent de suïcidi de la noia és culpa de la seva mare... Una cosa és que es mostrin les dificultats d'una mare soltera i adolescent criant a una nena que no volia tenir, això explica el seu comportament, però no el justifica.
Finalment, la relació entre les tietes és adorable i és el contrapunt sa. M'hagués agradat que s'aprofundis també en les seves dificultats com a bollis migrants, però entenc que el llibre no anava d'això.
És ideal si voleu explicar de manera senzilla com afecta la depressió al dia a dia d'algú, sobretot a gent jove.
A partir d'aquí, SPOILERS!
.
.
.
El shock cultural i el racisme que veiem a través dels ulls de la protagonista estan molt ben integrats, si bé m'ha donat la sensació que al final Canadà quedava una mica massa ben parat, com si Trinidad fos un lloc endarrerit o conservador mentre que Canadà tenen pocs prejudicis i són progres. Clar que aquesta és la impressió que rep la prota, pero també és amb la que ens quedem lis lectoris.
Un punt que no m'ha agradat és la relació mare-filla i com fins a cert punt s'excusa el maltracte físic i psicològic de la mare vers la prota. Hagués preferit que s'aprofundis més en això i que no es quedés tan a l'aire. Precisament l'intent de suïcidi de la noia és culpa de la seva mare... Una cosa és que es mostrin les dificultats d'una mare soltera i adolescent criant a una nena que no volia tenir, això explica el seu comportament, però no el justifica.
Finalment, la relació entre les tietes és adorable i és el contrapunt sa. M'hagués agradat que s'aprofundis també en les seves dificultats com a bollis migrants, però entenc que el llibre no anava d'això.
December 23, 2023
Stories about children’s mental health and the mental health struggles of women of color and immigrants are almost completely absent in media, and seeing it addressed so directly here was so heartwarming. The attitude about mental health is so flippant in so many cultures, which is unfortunate because of how mental health struggles compound at the intersection of different marginalized identities. A lot of the roots for these attitudes stem from colonial histories, but parts of it I understand very well, and I also understand that even though it may not completely be our individual faults, it’s still up to us to change the culture. I hope with more awareness and understanding of how our brains work and the importance of mental health, we will continue to grow in our care and acceptance of tending to it.
As for the book itself, it felt so alive and so authentic. So many different aspects of life and identities were touched upon in a way that felt natural, and most of the characters really felt real. Though I did have some moments I didn’t necessarily love, I can still say I’m really glad I got to read this book and I think it’s a milestone in media about mental health.
(also Kayla’s name being revealed on the very last page??? that’s so scary i didn’t even notice that we never knew it 😭😭)
As for the book itself, it felt so alive and so authentic. So many different aspects of life and identities were touched upon in a way that felt natural, and most of the characters really felt real. Though I did have some moments I didn’t necessarily love, I can still say I’m really glad I got to read this book and I think it’s a milestone in media about mental health.
(also Kayla’s name being revealed on the very last page??? that’s so scary i didn’t even notice that we never knew it 😭😭)
February 1, 2025
Quite a nice, simple book on anxiety/depression for middle grade readers. A perfect introduction to some heavier content without going too in depth. Like an intro level that I think would be super helpful for kids who are starting to deal with those kinds of things. Also emphasizes empathy towards people who are not well equipped to handle those topics with care.
September 10, 2021
Short, sweet and to the point. Overall I liked the book but I felt like it needed something more. I did find it interesting that the main character’s name isn’t actually mentioned until the last page! Not sure if it was done on purpose but just an observation I made.
December 8, 2025
A rare case where the book should’ve been longer. But still important for the mental health themes throughout. Trigger warning for suicide ideation and attempt.
Also it is just me or did we not find out the main character’s name until the last page?
Also it is just me or did we not find out the main character’s name until the last page?
February 23, 2024
3.75⭐️
September 6, 2020
Kayla is depressed and tries to kill herself in trinidad where she lives. Her single mom sends her to canada to live with her aunt and her aunts gf. A little boring
April 11, 2020
3.5/5
Read
May 31, 2018Use once for the temporary place where you are residing. Use twice for the place that embodies the true meaning of the word- home. That’s the impulse behind the title of Lisa Allen-Agostini’s book, Home Home. The story follows a teenage girl from Trinidad who is sent to Canada to stay with her aunt and her aunt’s partner. From the beginning, the reader confronts her world as she sees it happening to her. This is a story of youth told from a youth’s perspective, coming to grips with strained familial relationships, depression, loneliness, self-esteem, first crushes, religion, world views and sexuality. Instead of being overwrought in its portrayal, the reader is left with the unfiltered thoughts of a young girl approaching her coming of age moment. She’s figuring out life, her worldview, and learning to stand up for herself in the process.
Throughout the story the cast of characters are introduced slowly, each being shown as they impact the main character’s realization of self and growth. Allen-Agostini is careful to give each character a voice though, so the reader can also understand how they would impact the main character. The use of characters is decidedly purposeful as each character — no matter how small- serves a purpose in the protagonist’s realization of self and coming to terms with the world. As readers learn a great deal about each character and their identity, the narrator is left somewhat ambiguous until her full self is actualized at the end.
While Home Home is a quick read, Allen-Agostini offers a great deal for readers to toy with and ultimately enjoy throughout the story. Readers familiar with Caribbean culture will enjoy the interjections of Trinidadian dialect and phrases throughout the story. But a cosmopolitan upbringing is not necessary to understand the book. No one is alienated. If “steups” does not bring a specific sound and mood to mind, readers can still determine the exact tone being set when the main character kisses her teeth. The explanation of terms goes across cultures and age groups in both ways as Allen-Agostini also explains terms like “LGBT”- short for Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay or Transgender. In a time when pansexuality makes headlines, defining decades old terminology seems almost old hat. Yet for the purposes of the novel and the story — including an explanation makes perfect sense.
The most compelling part of Home Home is the candid and simplistic examination of depression. Allen-Agostini uses simple devices to explore the seriousness of a mental health issue as it affects youth. Teenage outcasts are not new to young adult literature. In this treatment, concerns that may otherwise seem trite are given the amount of consideration they would in an average teenager’s life. The gravitas of an outfit choice or an argument makes even more sense when the stakes are laid out clearly for the reader.
Ultimately, Home Home is a welcome read and insight into the life of one girl’s trials and triumphs in an extremely short period of time. No situation presented in the story is out of the ordinary, or seems implausible. What is most remarkable is that Allen-Agostini does not rely on cliches or conjecture in order to get the message through. I however, cannot resist. If home is where the heart is, Home Home is a great reminder that pieces of our heart can be left in different places whether or not it’s our will. Better yet, as Luther Vandross once sang, “a house is not a home when there’s no one there to hold you tight.” Allen-Agostini’s work shares the same message. And most importantly, when we find home, we also find our identity and our names.
Home Home Review by Guest Editor Kimberly Denise Williams
Throughout the story the cast of characters are introduced slowly, each being shown as they impact the main character’s realization of self and growth. Allen-Agostini is careful to give each character a voice though, so the reader can also understand how they would impact the main character. The use of characters is decidedly purposeful as each character — no matter how small- serves a purpose in the protagonist’s realization of self and coming to terms with the world. As readers learn a great deal about each character and their identity, the narrator is left somewhat ambiguous until her full self is actualized at the end.
While Home Home is a quick read, Allen-Agostini offers a great deal for readers to toy with and ultimately enjoy throughout the story. Readers familiar with Caribbean culture will enjoy the interjections of Trinidadian dialect and phrases throughout the story. But a cosmopolitan upbringing is not necessary to understand the book. No one is alienated. If “steups” does not bring a specific sound and mood to mind, readers can still determine the exact tone being set when the main character kisses her teeth. The explanation of terms goes across cultures and age groups in both ways as Allen-Agostini also explains terms like “LGBT”- short for Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay or Transgender. In a time when pansexuality makes headlines, defining decades old terminology seems almost old hat. Yet for the purposes of the novel and the story — including an explanation makes perfect sense.
The most compelling part of Home Home is the candid and simplistic examination of depression. Allen-Agostini uses simple devices to explore the seriousness of a mental health issue as it affects youth. Teenage outcasts are not new to young adult literature. In this treatment, concerns that may otherwise seem trite are given the amount of consideration they would in an average teenager’s life. The gravitas of an outfit choice or an argument makes even more sense when the stakes are laid out clearly for the reader.
Ultimately, Home Home is a welcome read and insight into the life of one girl’s trials and triumphs in an extremely short period of time. No situation presented in the story is out of the ordinary, or seems implausible. What is most remarkable is that Allen-Agostini does not rely on cliches or conjecture in order to get the message through. I however, cannot resist. If home is where the heart is, Home Home is a great reminder that pieces of our heart can be left in different places whether or not it’s our will. Better yet, as Luther Vandross once sang, “a house is not a home when there’s no one there to hold you tight.” Allen-Agostini’s work shares the same message. And most importantly, when we find home, we also find our identity and our names.
Home Home Review by Guest Editor Kimberly Denise Williams
March 5, 2020
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC.
Home Home is about Kayla who after a suicide attempt is sent to live with her Aunt in Canada. There she tries to adjust to Canada while struggling with severe depression and anxiety.
I love that this examined mental illness but with a black main character. It centered on someone from Trinidad where mental illness is still seen as something that comes from a demon. This book felt so real she truly captured all the intrusive thoughts, actions and feelings that come from suffering from mental illness. My only complaint is Kayla wasn't very developed. Outside of her illness, I can't tell you much else about her. This may be due to the fact that this is a novella and most of the other characters weren't very fleshed out either but it was frustrating. Mental illness is a tough subject to depict and this book did such an amazing job of depicting mental illness and handling it with care.
There is a romance in this book I love that it doesn't fall into usual love cures mental illness tropes. The first time she meets him she has a severe panic attack. Even when they start talking and she feels comfortable around him she still has mental health issues. I loved seeing that, a lot of people think that love changes mental illness because of the trope but it really doesn't change anything. Actually, sometimes it can make mental illness worse because it's a new person to deal with and there are lots of unknowns with new people. All of the unknowns of new people can make issues like anxiety way worse. It was handled so well and felt so real.
The side characters were amazing. Her Aunt is a lesbian and lives with a woman who is basically her wife. Her relationship with her aunt was so cute. I loved her best friend from home. She was so supportive and understanding of Kayla's illness. It was so heartwarming to see that especially since her mom was judgemental and horrible to her.
All in all, this was such a beautifully well-written portrayal of mental illness from a perspective we don't always hear about. I highly recommend this if you're looking for a short book that tackles mental illness in a respectful way and that isn't from the usual white perspective.
Home Home is about Kayla who after a suicide attempt is sent to live with her Aunt in Canada. There she tries to adjust to Canada while struggling with severe depression and anxiety.
I love that this examined mental illness but with a black main character. It centered on someone from Trinidad where mental illness is still seen as something that comes from a demon. This book felt so real she truly captured all the intrusive thoughts, actions and feelings that come from suffering from mental illness. My only complaint is Kayla wasn't very developed. Outside of her illness, I can't tell you much else about her. This may be due to the fact that this is a novella and most of the other characters weren't very fleshed out either but it was frustrating. Mental illness is a tough subject to depict and this book did such an amazing job of depicting mental illness and handling it with care.
There is a romance in this book I love that it doesn't fall into usual love cures mental illness tropes. The first time she meets him she has a severe panic attack. Even when they start talking and she feels comfortable around him she still has mental health issues. I loved seeing that, a lot of people think that love changes mental illness because of the trope but it really doesn't change anything. Actually, sometimes it can make mental illness worse because it's a new person to deal with and there are lots of unknowns with new people. All of the unknowns of new people can make issues like anxiety way worse. It was handled so well and felt so real.
The side characters were amazing. Her Aunt is a lesbian and lives with a woman who is basically her wife. Her relationship with her aunt was so cute. I loved her best friend from home. She was so supportive and understanding of Kayla's illness. It was so heartwarming to see that especially since her mom was judgemental and horrible to her.
All in all, this was such a beautifully well-written portrayal of mental illness from a perspective we don't always hear about. I highly recommend this if you're looking for a short book that tackles mental illness in a respectful way and that isn't from the usual white perspective.
March 2, 2020
I received a galley of this book through Netgalley
This book has content warnings for alcoholism, a suicide attempt, homophobia, anxiety, depression and panic attacks.
This was a short read but it still manages to pack quite a punch. I love how the author didn't hold back when it came to these difficult issues. She didn't talk anything down and really showed the good and the bad moments. That was especially surprising to me because the main character is only fourteen and usually books with younger characters don't really include all of this. I really liked the family dynamics in this book. They were very complex and also very well explained. I also love how all the diversities were discussed in this book. It all just felt so casual and just like respectful conversations friends/family have to better understand each other. The only problem I had with this book though is that I think some things could have been a bit better fleshed out. If this book was just about 50 pages longer it could have been magnificent.
This book has content warnings for alcoholism, a suicide attempt, homophobia, anxiety, depression and panic attacks.
This was a short read but it still manages to pack quite a punch. I love how the author didn't hold back when it came to these difficult issues. She didn't talk anything down and really showed the good and the bad moments. That was especially surprising to me because the main character is only fourteen and usually books with younger characters don't really include all of this. I really liked the family dynamics in this book. They were very complex and also very well explained. I also love how all the diversities were discussed in this book. It all just felt so casual and just like respectful conversations friends/family have to better understand each other. The only problem I had with this book though is that I think some things could have been a bit better fleshed out. If this book was just about 50 pages longer it could have been magnificent.
December 1, 2019
The novella is a really beautiful meditation on mental illness, family, and migration. It tells the story of a 14-year-old girl from Trinidad who spends the summer with her lesbian aunts in Canada. The summer helps her realize how toxic her childhood was and empowers her to gently advocate for better for herself. It’s overall uplifting and really sweet, especially seeing her aunts care for her and get excited about her life.
The book is kinda tough to read in terms of mental health. The narrator attempt suicide, has several nervous breakdowns, and has an overall negative life view. It’s pretty hard to enter into the sadness and sit with it in the way that the author asks the audience to do in the novel. It is also heartbreaking to read about a girl so young struggling with so much.
I will say that I struggled with the voice in the novel. It frequently came off as overly formal to me, in a way that didn’t sound like normal teenagers to me. Then every once in a while, she’d tuck in a bit of slang or a swear word that throw off the voice. I’m uncertain if this is truly how Trinidadian teens speak, or if this is simply an area that the narrator is growing in.
I will say that the cover is gorgeous, especially of the edition coming out this spring. It really caught my eye and lead to me wanting to read this book.
The book is kinda tough to read in terms of mental health. The narrator attempt suicide, has several nervous breakdowns, and has an overall negative life view. It’s pretty hard to enter into the sadness and sit with it in the way that the author asks the audience to do in the novel. It is also heartbreaking to read about a girl so young struggling with so much.
I will say that I struggled with the voice in the novel. It frequently came off as overly formal to me, in a way that didn’t sound like normal teenagers to me. Then every once in a while, she’d tuck in a bit of slang or a swear word that throw off the voice. I’m uncertain if this is truly how Trinidadian teens speak, or if this is simply an area that the narrator is growing in.
I will say that the cover is gorgeous, especially of the edition coming out this spring. It really caught my eye and lead to me wanting to read this book.
October 11, 2018
I’m writing this review on World Mental Health Day 2018 which - appropriately - has the theme of ‘young people and mental health in a changing world’. Kayla is every adolescent who suffers from mental distress and illness. “I was really, really unhappy, like I had this big hole in my belly between my heart and my stomach and I couldn’t fill it with food or with love or books or anything and I just felt sad, all the time, all the time, all the time.”
She is also every Caribbean child who comes from a culture that is often unforgiving and lacking in understanding. Why would someone with so many benefits be ‘sad’? In her mother’s opinion, Kayla’s behaviour is ‘unacceptable’, a personal affront; her only support is her (only) friend, Akilah, in Trinidad. After attempting suicide, she is sent away to her Aunt Jillian in Canada. There she finds a caring, non-judgmental environment with Jillian and her long-term partner, Julie. As she comes to terms with cultural differences and new friendships, Kayla moves from a place of ‘penance’ to where she is ready to ‘start to get better’.
Home Home is a delightful story in which the author painlessly educates while letting us into Kayla’s world view. Highly recommended.
She is also every Caribbean child who comes from a culture that is often unforgiving and lacking in understanding. Why would someone with so many benefits be ‘sad’? In her mother’s opinion, Kayla’s behaviour is ‘unacceptable’, a personal affront; her only support is her (only) friend, Akilah, in Trinidad. After attempting suicide, she is sent away to her Aunt Jillian in Canada. There she finds a caring, non-judgmental environment with Jillian and her long-term partner, Julie. As she comes to terms with cultural differences and new friendships, Kayla moves from a place of ‘penance’ to where she is ready to ‘start to get better’.
Home Home is a delightful story in which the author painlessly educates while letting us into Kayla’s world view. Highly recommended.
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