About the book
From the critically acclaimed author of When You Look Like Us comes a page-turning YA contemporary novel about what happens when the latest “Becky” on the internet is your best friend.
A lot is up in the air in Naomi Henry’s life: her spot as a varsity cheer flier, her classmates’ reaction to the debut of her natural hair, and her crush on the guy who’s always been like a brother to her. With so much uncertainty, she feels lucky to have a best friend like Kylie to keep her grounded. After all, they’re practically sisters—Naomi’s mom took care of Kylie and her twin brother for years.
But then a video of Kylie calling the cops on two Black teens in a shopping store parking lot goes viral. Naomi is shaken, and her town is reeling from the publicity. While Naomi tries to reckon with Kylie, the other Black students in their high school are questioning their friendship, and her former friends are wondering where this new “woke” Naomi came from. Although Naomi wants to stand by her best friend, she now can’t help but see everything in a different light.
As tensions in her town escalate, Naomi finds herself engaging in protests that are on the cusp of being illegal. And then a bomb explodes, and someone is found dead. Will Naomi be caught in the center of the blast?
Golden Kite Award winner Pamela N. Harris has crafted a taut novel that delves into big issues, and is the perfect next read for fans of I’m Not Dying with You Tonight and The Black Kids.
- Friendship and Loyalty: Naomi and Kylie have been like sisters their whole lives. But when a viral video exposes a crack in their bond, Naomi must choose between loyalty to her best friend and her own identity.
- Identity and Self-Discovery: From debuting her natural hair to joining student protests, Naomi is on a journey to find her voice in a town that wants her to stay quiet.
- YA Social Issues Fiction: A powerful and timely story that tackles racism, privilege, and the complexities of activism in the digital age, perfect for book clubs and classroom discussions.
- High-Stakes Mystery: When simmering tensions in the town explode into violence, a bomb goes off and someone is found dead, putting Naomi at the center of a dangerous investigation.
Editions of This Town Is on Fire
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780063212626
- EBook
- ISBN 9780063212640
Read an Excerpt
From the critically acclaimed author of When You Look Like Us comes a page-turning YA contemporary novel about what happens when the latest “Becky” on the internet is your best friend.
A lot is up in the air in Naomi Henry’s life: her spot as a varsity cheer flier, her classmates’ reaction to the debut of her natural hair, and her crush on the guy who’s always been like a brother to her. With so much uncertainty, she feels lucky to have a best friend like Kylie to keep her grounded. After all, they’re practically sisters—Naomi’s mom took care of Kylie and her twin brother for years.
But then a video of Kylie calling the cops on two Black teens in a shopping store parking lot goes viral. Naomi is shaken, and her town is reeling from the publicity. While Naomi tries to reckon with Kylie, the other Black students in their high school are questioning their friendship, and her former friends are wondering where this new “woke” Naomi came from. Although Naomi wants to stand by her best friend, she now can’t help but see everything in a different light.
As tensions in her town escalate, Naomi finds herself engaging in protests that are on the cusp of being illegal. And then a bomb explodes, and someone is found dead. Will Naomi be caught in the center of the blast?
Golden Kite Award winner Pamela N. Harris has crafted a taut novel that delves into big issues, and is the perfect next read for fans of I’m Not Dying with You Tonight and The Black Kids.
- Friendship and Loyalty: Naomi and Kylie have been like sisters their whole lives. But when a viral video exposes a crack in their bond, Naomi must choose between loyalty to her best friend and her own identity.
- Identity and Self-Discovery: From debuting her natural hair to joining student protests, Naomi is on a journey to find her voice in a town that wants her to stay quiet.
- YA Social Issues Fiction: A powerful and timely story that tackles racism, privilege, and the complexities of activism in the digital age, perfect for book clubs and classroom discussions.
- High-Stakes Mystery: When simmering tensions in the town explode into violence, a bomb goes off and someone is found dead, putting Naomi at the center of a dangerous investigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is This Town Is on Fire about?
From the critically acclaimed author of When You Look Like Us comes a page-turning YA contemporary novel about what happens when the latest “Becky” on the internet is your best friend.
A lot is up in the air in Naomi Henry’s life: her spot as a varsity cheer flier, her classmates’ reaction to the debut of her natural hair, and her crush on the guy who’s always been like a brother to her. With so much uncertainty, she feels lucky to have a best friend like Kylie to keep her grounded. After all, they’re practically sisters—Naomi’s mom took care of Kylie and her twin brother for years.
But then a video of Kylie calling the cops on two Black teens in a shopping store parking lot goes viral. Naomi is shaken, and her town is reeling from the publicity. While Naomi tries to reckon with Kylie, the other Black students in their high school are questioning their friendship, and her former friends are wondering where this new “woke” Naomi came from. Although Naomi wants to stand by her best friend, she now can’t help but see everything in a different light.
As tensions in her town escalate, Naomi finds herself engaging in protests that are on the cusp of being illegal. And then a bomb explodes, and someone is found dead. Will Naomi be caught in the center of the blast?
Golden Kite Award winner Pamela N. Harris has crafted a taut novel that delves into big issues, and is the perfect next read for fans of I’m Not Dying with You Tonight and The Black Kids.
- Friendship and Loyalty: Naomi and Kylie have been like sisters their whole lives. But when a viral video exposes a crack in their bond, Naomi must choose between loyalty to her best friend and her own identity.
- Identity and Self-Discovery: From debuting her natural hair to joining student protests, Naomi is on a journey to find her voice in a town that wants her to stay quiet.
- YA Social Issues Fiction: A powerful and timely story that tackles racism, privilege, and the complexities of activism in the digital age, perfect for book clubs and classroom discussions.
- High-Stakes Mystery: When simmering tensions in the town explode into violence, a bomb goes off and someone is found dead, putting Naomi at the center of a dangerous investigation.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in This Town Is on Fire?
Children’s, Teenage and Educational > Children’s / Teenage fiction and true stories > Children’s / Teenage fiction: School stories
Where can I read a sample of This Town Is on Fire?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780063212626
Who is/are the Author/s of the book This Town Is on Fire?
Pamela N. Harris
Who is the Publisher of the book This Town Is on Fire?
HarperCollins
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
This Town Is on Fire is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780063212626) and ebook(ISBN 9780063212640)
Where can I buy This Town Is on Fire online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy This Town Is on Fire from below
Where can I buy This Town Is on Fire?