This Side of Home
Readers rate it 4.0 (6 on Hardcover)
335 pages · Released Sep 3, 2026 · Bloomsbury Publishing
Content report card
This Side of Home parent’s guide: what’s inside
Sexual content
LGBTQ+ themes
Substance use
What it offers
A note for parents
This Side of Home by Renée Watson explores themes of friendship, identity, and community through the experiences of African American protagonists navigating social change and personal growth. The story addresses serious social issues including gentrification and racial dynamics, but handles them thoughtfully for a young audience. The book emphasizes resilience, empathy, and standing up for what's right, making it a strong choice for early teens looking for meaningful contemporary fiction.
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From the publisher
Twins Nikki and Maya Younger always agreed on most things, but as they head into their senior year they react differently to the gentrification of their Portland, Oregon, neighborhood and the new--white--family that moves in after their best friend and her mother are evicted. Twins Nikki and Maya Younger always agreed on most things, but as they head into their senior year they react differently to the gentrification of their Portland, Oregon, neighborhood and the new--white--family that moves in after their best friend and her mother are evicted.
Shelved under
- Juvenile Fiction
- Young Adult
- Fiction
- Friendship
- Urban renewal
- Neighborhoods
- Twins
- Dating (Social customs)
- Sisters
- Best friends
- Race relations
- Children's fiction
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ISBN 9781599906683 · Bloomsbury Publishing