The Homecoming - Softcover

Ramey, Stacie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 149263588X ISBN 13: 9781492635888

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire, 2016

Synopsis

A new, emotional novel from Stacie Ramey, the author of The Sister Pact

They say you can never go home-and John's about to find out just how true that is.

John's mother kicked him out of the house when she couldn't handle his anger, and John's spent the last few years bouncing between relatives. But after his last scrape with the law, there's nowhere for him to go but home.

Starting senior year at a new high school and fitting into the family that shut him out is a challenge. And it's all that John can do to keep from turning back to bad habits. Lacrosse training helps him focus. As does Emily, the girl next door. She's sweet and smart, and makes him think his heart may finally be healing. Maybe he's ready to trust again. But tragedy has a way of finding John, and he must decide between saving his family or saving himself.

"A powerful story of redemption, forgiveness, love, and the ability to persevere."-VOYA on The Sister Pact

About this title

About the Author

Stacie Ramey learned to read at a very early age to escape the endless tormenting from her older siblings. She attended the University of Florida where she majored in communication sciences and Penn State where she received a Master of Science degree in Speech Pathology. When she's not writing, she engages in Netflix wars with her children or beats her husband in Scrabble. She lives in Wellington, Florida with her husband, three children, and two rescue dogs.

From School Library Journal

Gr 10 Up—After the accident that left his brother Ryan brain damaged, John's anger got the best of him and he was forced to leave his home. Seven years later, John is in trouble again and returns to the family who threw him out. It's a rough transition for him: he's a high school senior in a new school, he resumes playing lacrosse and starts getting back into shape, he's thinking seriously about his future and career goals, and his mom is still devoting most of her energy to Ryan's care (at the expense of her own health and well-being). The protagonist drowns his troubles in Jack Daniel's and a bit of pot, which might cause some trouble with his parole. He is on the brink of collapse, as are the rest of his family, and there's no clear way to help them without giving up everything he's worked for. The overall message of relying on family and friends for support is clear, and John's pain and confusion are palpable. He's 17 and handling things as well as an adolescent can. He sees a therapist and vents some of his rage, and breakthroughs come quickly. This is a fairly typical story of overcoming familial dramas and healing from tragedy, but the male point of view distinguishes it in a field crowded with girls' perspectives. VERDICT A solid addition to YA collections.—Brandy Danner, Coakley Middle School, Norwood, MA

About this edition

• Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 149263588X
• ISBN 13: 9781492635888
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 320