Home Is Not a Country is a powerful young adult novel-in-verse about identity, belonging, and the lives we might have lived. Written in lyrical, poetic language, it follows Nima, a teen who feels caught between cultures and out of place both at home and in her suburban town.
Nima’s mother comes from another country, another way of life, and the distance between them feels wider every day. Nima aches for the name her parents almost gave her—Yasmeen—and the girl she imagines she might have been: brighter, bolder, more beautiful, more at ease in the world.
When a devastating loss shatters her one true refuge, Nima is forced to confront the ghost of this other self and the possibility of an entirely different path. As her sense of reality blurs, she must decide which life is truly hers and find the courage to fight for it.
This acclaimed novel-in-verse offers a tender, immersive exploration of immigration, family, friendship, and the complicated meaning of home—perfect for thoughtful teen readers and lovers of contemporary poetry.
- Young adult contemporary novel-in-verse
- Themes of diaspora, culture, and first- and second-generation identity
- Resonant exploration of family bonds and friendship
- Ideal for readers who enjoy poetic, character-driven stories
