Never Go Home Again: A Novel [Paperback]

Shannon Holmes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 27, 2005

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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

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

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books (September 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743496167
• ISBN-13: 978-0743496162
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #477,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Should Be Required Reading In Middle and High School, January 22, 2005

By 

Book 'Em Danno - See all my reviews

This review is from: Never Go Home Again: A Novel (Hardcover)

I became acquainted with Shannon Holmes' writing with his debut "B-More Careful". At first I thought Shannon was a woman because of the detail about how slick the women were in the book and also there was no picture on the back of the book to show otherwise. When I found out it was a man that wrote that book my respect level went a little bit higher for Mr. Holmes. Since then he has never disappointed me with any of his books. The same holds true with "Never Go Home Again". Shannon is not playing with this writing thing and his skills just keep getting better.

"Never Go Home Again" is not your typical drug story where the male is from a single-parent home with nothing but the streets to take care of him. This book is written from the perspective of what happens to a large majority of our young black men. The main character, Corey, comes from a loving two-parent household but still gets caught up in the drug game. His parents are so busy working trying to provide a good life for him that the lure of the streets and pressure from his friends draw him in. Corey's mom and dad are not on dope, they don't beat him, and yet he still sees the fast money that can be made in the streets. You know that Corey is smart and was raised right but he just makes the wrong choices in life which lead him to an unfortunate end. This is a perfect example of people trying to raise a young black male in the best way that they know how but society says that their child's worth is different because of the color of his skin.

All I have to say is I have much love for Shannon in writing this book and think everyone should read it. This book seems to be semi-autographical of Shannon's life from what I've read about him. The difference is that Shannon chose to make a change after being in the streets and in jail with something that he thought he would never do in a million years. He chose to pick up a pen and write about the circumstances of the inner city, what the characters do to survive, and give a message of how you'll end up if you choose to make the same choices. Keep up the good work Shannon. I'm ready for "B-More Careful 2".

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a must read, January 15, 2005

By 

shyste(coast2coastreadersbookclub) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Never Go Home Again: A Novel (Hardcover)

I really liked this book. I love the fact that Mr.Holmes took it there with the issues facing our young black brothers. We find Corey who was raised in a two parent household and raised to live right but is influenced by the streets which ultimately results in an untimely death. I love the message that was given in this book and recommend it for young black males to read. Don't sleep on this one!!!!

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, one of the best books of 2004, December 20, 2004

By 

BookRemarks (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Never Go Home Again: A Novel (Hardcover)

A strong, riveting and cautionary tale, Never Go Home Again teaches important lessons about the consequences of street life. With its cinematic feel, this novel easily persuades you to read page after eye-opening page until you race to the ending.

The story involves Corey, a New York teen who becomes influenced by the wrong crowd. He's caught up in the game, and the decisions he makes greatly impacts his life. A wide range of convincing characters make up this story and each one of them is memorable and spring from the pages like they are commanding your attention.

Shannon Holmes absolutely has his finger on the pulse of the realities of thug life; where disillusioned young men become trapped in a cycle of drug-infested darkness, and where ruthless killers and dealers know only one way of life. While reading I felt as if I was in prison, and I couldn't wait to get to the end, so I could escape, so I could breathe. The story is authentic, raw, and brutal, yet humorous in an odd kind of way. It's an important book that should be read by every young man and woman, and even their parents. The hardest thing to read is the dialogue; it's very street, lots of slang, and in one chapter, for some reason, Corey uses perfectly good English which kind of threw me off, but it wasn't a biggie. Nevertheless, I've read a lot of books this year, and Never Go Home Again ranks among the most impressive.