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When You Look Like Us Kindle Edition

by Pamela N. Harris (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 125 ratings
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“A high-speed story that will draw teens in and keep them turning pages until they reach the unpredictable and thrilling ending. A must for YA collections.” (School Library Journal)

A 2022 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work nominee and a 2022 Edgar Award nominee, this timely, gripping teen novel is about a boy who must take up the search for his sister when she goes missing from a neighborhood where Black girls’ disappearances are too often overlooked, from debut author Pamela Harris. Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Tiffany D. Jackson.

When you look like us—brown skin, brown eyes, black braids or fades—everyone else thinks you’re trouble. No one even blinks twice over a missing Black girl from public housing because she must’ve brought whatever happened to her upon herself. I, Jay Murphy, can admit that, for a minute, I thought my sister Nicole just got caught up with her boyfriend—a drug dealer—and his friends. But she’s been gone too long. Nic, where are you?

If I hadn’t hung up on her that night, she would be at our house, spending time with Grandma.

If I was a better brother, she’d be finishing senior year instead of being another name on a missing persons list.

It’s time to step up, to do what the Newport News police department won’t.

Bring her home.

Also a 2022 ALA Notable Book for a Global Society Award winner!

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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    12 - 18 years
  2. Print length
    368 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    6 - 12
  5. Publisher
    Quill Tree Books
  6. Publication date
    January 5, 2021
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  11. ISBN-13
    978-0062945891
  12. See all details
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From the Publisher

gripping, mystery, race, black, america

thrilling, star review,

kirkus, reality

rich neighborhood, black, booklist

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—Black teen Jay Murphy lives in Newport News, VA, with his sister and grandmother. Jay's mother is in prison for drug-related offenses, and his father died from an illness when he was young. Jay is an excellent student and teaches Sunday school at his church. Jay's sister, Nicole, goes to a party on a Thursday evening with her boyfriend and best friend and doesn't return home. Jay tries to cover for her as much as possible but eventually turns to the police for help. After Jay realizes the police won't be much help finding his missing sister, he teams up with his friend from church and embarks on a harrowing journey to find out what happened to Nicole. Harris begins this debut novel with an author's note about her personal connections to the characters. Harris begins the first chapter with a vivid auditory description of Jay's neighborhood that will hook readers. This is a high-speed story that will draw teens in and keep them turning pages until they reach the unpredictable and thrilling ending. VERDICT Fans of Jason Reynolds and Nic Stone will devour this novel. A must for YA collections.—Michelle Kornberger, Havenview M.S., Memphis

Review

“A high-speed story that will draw teens in and keep them turning pages until they reach the unpredictable and thrilling ending. A must for YA collections.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“A powerful story about misperceptions, reality, and the lives lived in between.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“[A] poignant debut novel. Harris creates a vividly drawn world, a rich cast of characters, and an authentic neighborhood.” — Booklist

“The book wisely distinguishes preconceptions from prejudice, making clear that the aggressions, microaggressions, and general oppression by white society is a whole lot different than a teenaged kid making a judgment call on his sister’s boyfriend…There’s emotional catharsis in Jay’s finally accepting that he does not have to be perfect to be human.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"Harris unapologetically gives voice to the grief that a community can feel when the law fails them, as well as their need to, instead, rely on the hope, love, and power they bring to one another. The strength and endurance of the Black family reverberate throughout this achingly honest debut." — Publishers Weekly

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B086SXTQQC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Quill Tree Books (January 5, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 5, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5592 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 125 ratings

About the author

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Pamela Harris

Pamela Harris

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
125 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Riley
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2024
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LOVE THIS BOOK
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars When You Look Like Us
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2021
Verified Purchase
When You Look Like Us is a story many Black people have experienced or heard about. Either directly or by extension–through someone they know, a childhood friend, a distant cousin, an old classmate...even through social media because it has been made abundantly clear, through fiction and reality, missing Black folks are not a priority for the media.

But for me When You Look Like Us was more than just a story shining a magnifying glass on how Black people are seen and treated as less than, or vilified and dismissed even when we're the victim. Jay and Nics story also shined a light on how a history of being cast aside and even demonized in times of need or when we are wronged, has irrevocably altered the way we move through spaces and communicate or fail to when we need help.

There were so many instances throughout the book when Jay began worrying about his sisters' whereabouts and then became genuinely concerned, that I wanted to scream "TELL SOMEONE" but I didn't because I understood without him even having to explain, why he was hesitant to do so. Because what will people say? What will they think? How will they spin the narrative to make it seem like Nic wasn't deserving of his or anyone else's concern. How quickly will they dismiss his fears? All valid feelings and fears that all came to fruition.

I wanted to be pissed and outraged at the lack of sense of urgency from the police when Jay originally got the courage to speak up about his missing sister. I wanted to be pissed at how quickly the same police took the first piece of circumstantial evidence they could find to try and close the case without even having found his sister. I wanted to be horrified by the way the local news station misconstrued and twisted the words of Jay and his grandmother to further the narrative that his sister was a miscreant who asked for the predicament she was in. But I couldn't because we see it on such a consistent basis that I am numb to it.

But because of that, I'm glad Pamela focused more on Jay and his love and dedication to his grandmother and sister, his focus and determination to be a good student, and ultimately his unwavering commitment to finding his sister and bringing her home. Getting to know Jay as he tried to find his sister endeared him so much to me and helped to overshadow the numbness and almost anger I would have had while reading this book. I felt devastation, stress, fear, and anger not because of how unfair everything seemed to be or because of all the deadends Jay faced with ZERO help from the so-called authorities. But because Pamela did a great job of making you care about and empathize with Jay.

Was this book an exciting thriller with constant twists and turns and zero time to catch your breath between one adventure and the next? No, but it was a relatable, genuine, and authentic feeling story. One that kept me invested, engaged, and entertained.
2 people found this helpful
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LAS Reviewer
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Reading
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2023
He’s determined to find his sister, and no one will stand in his way.

I’ve read a few books like this one, but this was a fresh take on the ‘find my sister’ trope. It felt real. It was like reading what a friend would be saying. I felt for Jay immediately and I liked how he was human about the whole thing–first he thought she was missing and on drugs, then he started to realize it might be worse than he expected. He’s a good younger brother and he’s determined.

This read very realistically, too, in that this isn’t an easy investigation. As the title insists, for people like Jay, it’s not easy to find your missing siblings. The cops dismiss him, even though they know his grandmother, and the people he has to talk to aren’t the greatest characters in the neighborhood. It’s tough and as I read, which I flew through, I rooted for him to find her, but I also knew stories like this don’t always end well.

I liked his interactions with Riley and Bowie. Like a regular teen, Jay dismisses them at times, but realizes he needs more than just himself to make this work. Riley was my favorite character because she was more than she seemed and so sweet, but determined as well, and not willing to give up on Jay or his sister.

The twist at the end was one I didn’t see coming and I liked it. The ending was satisfying, though life rarely is satisfying, and I’m glad it turned out how it did.

If you want a story that will make you think, make you feel and root for the characters, then this might be the one for you. Recommended.

originally posted at long and short reviews
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Mega mind
5.0 out of 5 stars surprisingly good
Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2021
Verified Purchase
For a young adult book, this book has depth and captivation. I would definitely enjoy reading more from this author.
One person found this helpful
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Amazngirl
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read and must have
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2021
Verified Purchase
I absolutely love this book!
One person found this helpful
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Kristi
5.0 out of 5 stars Meaningful and insightful
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2021
When You Look Like Us by Pamela N. Harris is twisty and suspenseful but along with this there is a strong underlying element that explores the ongoing issues surrounding classism, racism and privilege. Jay and his sister, Nic live with their grandma, MiMi, since their dad passed and their mom went to prison. They’re a close-knit family but since Nic started dating local drug dealer, Javon, she’s changed. Staying out all night, skipping out on school and tripping on Bliss, so when she texts him one night from what sounds like a rager, Jay figures he’s had enough of bailing her out and ignores her the rest of the night.

When Nic doesn’t show up to school the next day or home that next night, Jay realizes that Nic may be in trouble. From here, Jay, trying to protect MiMi, does his own sleuthing but even when he does decide to go to the police, he’s met with resistance because Nic isn’t the kind of girl that the cops put out an APB out on.

As much as this is a plot driven story, it is strongly character driven, too. Jayson is a such a good kid, he works hard at school, he does other kids’ homework to earn some extra cash to help his MiMi retire somewhere amazing, you just can’t help but love him and root for him. Nic, too, is as much of a victim of her environment and those that would take advantage of that. The obstacles that Jay runs in to are heartbreaking, this kid is literally walking a line. Those in his neighborhood look at him with suspicion and the cops, those that are supposed to protect and serve, do the same. The media, too, who should’ve focused on helping to find a missing teen turned it into a side-show circus by placing blame on the victim. There’s a lot to absorb and process in When You Look Like Us and this is a book I’ll be recommending to a lot of people.

I want to thank @epicreads for #gifting me this book and the author for writing it. This is a powerful book with deep insight and a message we all need to hear. When You Look Like Us was released on January 5th so you can get a copy now
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