A Supportive Place To Call Home

As we near the beginning of Pride Month and Caribbean Heritage Month! Here's a YA book that infuses both into the main characters of the book. Kayla is a teen getting accustomed to moving from Trinidad to Canada two weeks after a hospital stay. Her Mother sends her to live with her Aunt Jillian and her Aunt's partner Julie.

Such a big life event would seem like a rough transition, but she has one best friend from Home, Home (Trinidad) to support her along the journey. 

I enjoyed the loving and supportive relationship that her Aunt and her Aunt's partner provide throughout the book. They provide the nurturing spirit she needs. The protagonist will experience a nervous breakdown, panic attacks, and take the reader back to the day she was in the hospital after her suicide attempt.

The story is a glimpse into a mind dealing with self-hate. The book does give perspectives to the stigma around mental health especially as it pertains to a teenager trying to speak their truth. 

There is a love interest, but that relationship doesn't really get fleshed out. I think that was the hardest part from the book. I wanted a little more from the scenes, more of her interacting with peers, or maybe more dialogue to balance her self talk. 

Overall, it was a quick read that did keep me engaged. 

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