Never Go Home Again: A Novel - Softcover

Holmes, Shannon

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0743496167 ISBN 13: 9780743496162

Publisher: Atria, 2005

Synopsis

The experience and quality that I bring to my writing can't be faked. I know what I know. Through my novels, I invite readers to journey with me into the streets. Come see what I've seen. Let me show the gritty and grimy undercarriage of society, the "flip side" of the game....
-- Shannon Holmes
Inspired by the events of his own life, the Essence bestselling author of B-More Careful and Bad Girlz presents a vivid, unflinching novel about a young man's coming of age in the city streets.
Never Go Home Again is the story of Corey Dixon, a young man whose father tries as best he can to steer him away from the lure of the streets. And yet, like so many others in his neighborhood, Corey finds the lucrative drug trade too tempting to resist. While he makes fast money for a while, ultimately Corey must pay the price for his choice of his profession: his freedom. By the age of sixteen, Corey is sentenced to prison.
Incarcerated at Riker's Island, Corey lives through experiences that threaten to destroy his body, his mind, and his spirit. Still, in the midst of his horrific imprisonment, he discovers inner strength and -- against unimaginable odds -- manages to survive. Corey makes a new kind of family for himself in jail, including a teacher who encourages him to "never go home again." In the course of his journey of self-discovery, Corey comes to realize the wisdom in his mentor's words.
Unflinching and riveting, Never Go Home Again is a powerful, true-to-life story of redemption that no reader will soon forget.

About this title

Synopsis

From the "Essence" bestselling author, comes this heartrending novel about troubled youth. Shannon Holmes, "Essence" bestselling author of "B-More Careful" and "Bad Girlz", and one of the brightest stars in urban fiction, returns with a dramatic must-read novel inspired by his own life. "Never Go Home Again" is the story of Corey Dixon, a young man whose father tries as best he can to steer him away from the lure of the streets. And yet, like so many others in Corey's neighbourhood, he finds the temptations of the lucrative drug trade too great to resist. While he makes fast money for a while, it is inevitable that it is he who has to pay, with his time and maybe even his life: by the age of 16 Corey is locked up. Incarcerated in Riker's Island and then in prisons upstate, Corey lives through experiences that threaten to destroy his body, his mind and eventually his spirit. But in the midst of his horrific imprisonment he discovers new strength to keep himself together and survive. Corey meets a few kind souls who mean him well, including a teacher who encourages him to get out of prison and make something of himself. The teacher also advises Corey to " "never go home again."

" Though the homesick Corey does not immediately understand, he ultimately realises the wisdom of his mentor's words. Unflinching and riveting, this story is the firsthand account of the brutal, unforgiving inner-city streets and prison life, as well as a difficult lesson in accepting responsibility and moving on.

About the Author

Shannon Holmes, author of B-More Careful and Bad Girlz, is copublisher, with Vickie Stringer, of Triple Crown Publications.

About this edition

• Publisher: Atria
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0743496167
• ISBN 13: 9780743496162
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 336