When You Look Like Us by Pamela N. Harris: Book Review

When You Look Like Us, Pamela N. Harris’s debut novel was released in January 2021 by Quill Tree Books. It has been nominated for the Odyssey Award. It is also an Edgar Award Nominee for Best Young Adult fiction. Through this book, readers are introduced to Jay, a black teen, searching for his missing sister on his own. Growing up in the projects, Jay is used to people looking down on him because of the color of his skin. People, including the police, so why would he turn to them for help?

CW/TW: drug use, racism, violence, sexual assault

Synopsis from Goodreads

When you look like us—brown skin, brown eyes, black braids or fades—people think you’re trouble. No one looks twice at a missing black girl from the projects 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, got too caught up with her boyfriend—a drug dealer—and his friends.

But she’s been gone too long now.

If I hadn’t hung up on her that night, she’d be spending time with our 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 and do what the Newport News police department won’t.

Nic, I’m bringing you home.

Positives

This book is an honest look at the lives of young black people.

Negatives

The story seemed to drag a bit in spots. This was more due to the repetition of the narrator’s back story than anything.

My Opinions

I initially added When You Look Like Us to my TBR in January 2021 because of it’s setting. The city the story is set in is about a 30-minute drive from where I grew up. And I enjoy reading about places that I am familiar with. Add to it the fact this is a contemporary, and not a historical fiction which is what is genre most often associated with that part of the United States. Another factor that drew me to this book was the fact it was a debut novel from an author who also grew up in the area.

Overall, Jay’s story is not so unusual. He lives with his grandmother in the “projects” or low-income housing. Around him is a lot of drugs and violence. Because of these factors, many in society have written him off without ever getting to know him. Sound familiar?

After Jay’s dad passed away and his mother ended up in prison, Jay became the “man” of the house even though he is the youngest person there. He also has taken it upon himself to work hard to better his situation, as he doesn’t want to end up like many of the people he knows.

One night his sister sneaks out and goes to a party. Jay, studying, ignores his sister’s phone call and texts. The next morning, he realizes something isn’t right and sets about trying to fix it. But how can he fix something when he doesn’t know how it’s broken?

When You Look Like Us is an in-depth examination of the black experience in America. It is also a book that should be read along with The Hate U Give for an even more in-depth look at society as a whole.

Looking for some more books to read? Check out my other book reviews and my monthly reading wrap-ups.