It's 1963 in the small town of Monroe, New York. The Arringtons, a Black family, buy a house in a picturesque, all-white neighborhood. Some residents are welcoming, but many react to Dr. Philip Arrington, his wife Velma, and their daughters Livia and Maddie by conspiring against their success in both big and small ways. Amidst this mix of hostility and shaky acceptance, the Arringtons must navigate their careers, deal with a volatile marriage, and raise their daughters.But Where's Home?, Toni Ann Johnson's linked short story collection, explores the sometimes painful and often humorous experiences of the Arrington family as upper-middle-class Black people in a predominantly white, mostly working-class community. This book follows Johnson's previous collection, Light Skin Gone to Waste, which won the 2021 Flannery O'Connor Award. Through multiple perspectives that span from the 1960s to 2022, readers are invited into the lives of the eldest daughter, who longs for her father's affection while striving for independence; the youngest daughter, who seeks to overcome childhood pain through music and love; a mother dealing with infidelity that wounds and infuriates her, while raising her daughters in a place that rejects them; and a father practicing psychology while engaging in affairs with the white women of the town.Deeply emotional, funny, and unflinchingly honest, But Where's Home? lays bare the realities of Black life in America, challenging readers to confront issues of racism, classism, colonized thinking, narcissism, abuse, and parent-child relationships. Johnson's complex and interwoven characters create a kaleidoscope of truths about human nature and the complicated relationship the United States has with race.
"But Where's Home? is literary art that does what the best fiction does. It entertains with equal parts depth and levity, educates, fosters understanding about its character and setting, and illustrates the beauty, possibility, and power in the written word."―Kristen Gentry, author of Mama Said
"To pick up Toni Ann Johnson's But Where's Home? is to open oneself up to a question posed by one of its main characters, shortly after the book opens: does a family's psychological legacy always move "in the right direction, ascending higher and for the best?" Maddie, whose trajectory informs most of this gorgeous collection, tries, from the other side, to alter spiritual fate, to fix a hurt she's caused her daughter, Velma. We follow this attempt through the eyes of Maddie herself, Velma, who then becomes Maddie's mother, Phil, Velma's husband, and Livia, his daughter from a previous marriage. The family drama is so nicely braided with the changing nature of American racism, from the 1930s until now, and ends with our hearing from Emily, a family ancestor, through whom we get the cautionary knowledge that yes, you might ascend, but there will be plenty of trouble along the way. But Where's Home? is an essential addition to African-American literature in the new millennium, and Johnson's voice is a breath of fresh air. Readers will be dazzled by both the psychological and the historical scope of this collection."―Jacinda Townsend, author of Mother Country and Trigger Warning"
"This captivating collection features an engaging narrative voice, well-developed characters, and satisfying storylines. Johnson's work is outstanding and this is her best book to date. This impressive effort deserves wide attention."―Crystal Wilkinson, author of Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts and editor of the Screen Door Press imprint