{"product_id":"forest-gate-9781439172179","title":"Forest Gate","description":"\u003cb\u003eA shattering, poetic and raw first novel set among young Somalian refugees in the slums of London -- beginning with a double suicide and ending with a rebirth.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In a community where poverty is kept close and passed from one generation to the next, two teenage boys, best friends, stand on top of twin tower blocks. Facing each other across the abyss of London's urban sprawl, they say their good-byes and jump. One dies. The other, alternating with the sister of the deceased, narrates this novel. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e James gives us a window into the inner city -- his mom is a crack addict, his gang brothers force him to kill another black boy. Meina describes with feeling her family history in Somalia: after her parents are killed before her eyes, her village aunt sells her to six husbands -- before she is even a teenager. Desperate to rebuild their lives, James and Meina set out to find the place for which every child longs -- home. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Brutal and shockingly violent in places, rambunctious and lively in others and slyly, dryly witty in yet others, Meina and James's journey toward life through their past is ultimately a powerful story of redemptive love and the debut of an extraordinary literary talent.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Free Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/02\/2010\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781439172179\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 210\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.43lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.40h x 5.40w x 0.50d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 11\/15\/2009 pg. 56\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 11\/09\/2009 pg. 28\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e 12\/01\/2009\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e 01\/01\/2010 pg. 40\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e 02\/28\/2010 pg. 16\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e 03\/07\/2010 pg. 18\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/i\u003e 01\/01\/0001\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Peter Akinti","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":36650944037020,"sku":"9781439172179","price":13.59,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_c3852521-cd88-41f4-a5fb-bd664c39ada0.jpg?v=1603876459","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/forest-gate-9781439172179","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}