My students would enjoy reading and discussing this book because while it does cover important topics, it has a storyline that would keep them interested. It was an easy read that provides the perspective of the friend who has to grapple with their best friend’s true nature. It also sheds light on the extremes some go to be hear as well as to oppress others. This is a great book for young adults because they are always inviting people to the BBQ when they don’t know their true nature. Eye opener and conversation starter is what this book is.

I thought this book was captivating and so moving. I loved how it gave the black MC a chance to look outside her white friends and see the racism surrounding her. I love the chances she made and the friendships she made along the way.

I did not have time to download and read this book before it was archived, so I'm unable to leave a review.

This was one of my most anticipated reads and it did not disapoint. I was taken by the vivivd details the author had and I was a sucker for the prose. It was everything I had been hoping for and I look forward to the authors next works

Listen this author is officially an autobuy author for me. I read When You Look Like Us when it first came out so I could not wait to read her second book. AND IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!

This Town Is on Fire is such a thoughtful, close-up look at the complexities of human nature and the role social media plays in our world and relationships. While this book is about racism and uncovering the evil hidden by niceness, the author is careful to humanize all characters, not just those who are targeted. To me, this was my favorite aspect of the book -- the characters were incredibly developed and complex and no one was just a "bad guy." While I would consider Dear Martin, All American Boys, and The Hate U Give to be read-alikes, what I think makes this one unique is how developed the characters are, the back and forth in time (which is super engaging and makes it hard to stop reading!), and how this book shows the nuance of racism, activism, and relationships so deeply. I highly recommend this for any teacher or library!

The racial tension is thick in this Bildungsroman story. I almost quit reading if not for the flash forward scenes throughout the novel. I had to know if everyone survived the volatile environment established early one. I am thankful I finished. Though there were events that were frustrating, I am thankful for the journey of all of the main characters. This wasn’t just a story about race. There are plot twists, growth and hope for all those involved. The evil lurking turns out to be both a little bit stereotypical and a surprise.

Reading Between the Wines book review #111/115 for 2023:
Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: This Town Is On Fire
Author: Pamela N. Harris
Available Now!!

Sipping thoughts: Sometimes as middle-aged adult I find a really good YA book and this one was a pretty good one. I like how the storyline involves what is happening with race relations within this country while adding true friendship. This book will have you in your feels no matter your race. If you are looking for a book that will pull on your heartstrings, have you thinking about your own implicit biases while rooting for true friendship then this one is for you.

Cheers and thank you to @HarperCollinsChildrensBooks and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @ThisTownIsOnFire.

#ThisTownIsOnFire #PamelaNHarris #HarperCollinsChildrensBooks #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

This was a pretty decent coming-of-age YA novel. Harris masterfully creates an intense yet thought-provoking read filled with so many emotions from all of the characters surrounding race.

In the novel we watch as Naomi Henry struggles to navigate her Blackness after a viral video of her best-friend Kylie who happens to be white is seen calling the cops on two Black teens in a shopping store parking lot and it causes an uproar in their town. Naomi and Kylie have been best-friends for years and while Naomi wants to remain loyal even after what she’s seen, the other Black students at their high school are questioning their friendship. Now Naomi can’t help but see everything in a different light.

From the beginning the novel pulls you in with the aftermath of a bomb explosion. Throughout the book we go between the past and present learning about Naomi’s friendship with Kylie and what led up to the bombing. The pacing started off well but toward the middle it drags a bit but I believe in between that time we see Naomi’s character develop a little more.

I sympathized a lot with Naomi because she was caught in the middle of something that wasn’t her fault. I felt her friendship with Kylie seemed weird there were some red flags simply based on their interactions in the book it didn’t really give best friends. Then once everything popped off after the video their friendship went up in the air.

Overall, the book was great and the author did well building suspense around such a complex issue. The details were vivid and easy to picture. My only downside was once the protests began and more confusion arose amongst the teens I could predict what was going to lead up to the bombing. Outside of that I recommend because there was definitely a lot of action going on with this one. Special thanks to the author & #quilltreebooks for my gifted copy!!!

great book wow. recommend having nothing else to do but read for a day or 2. the character development was great as as well as the plot.

"This Town Is on Fire" by Pamela N. Harris ignites the imagination with its gripping narrative and intriguing mystery. Harris skillfully weaves a tale of suspense and secrets, drawing readers into a world of enigmatic occurrences and complex characters. The story's well-paced plot and Harris's ability to maintain suspense make it a page-turner for mystery lovers. "This Town Is on Fire" is an electrifying read that keeps you on the edge of your seat, uncovering layers of intrigue with every chapter.

Was a hard read but a story that is old as time. White people dodging accountability for actions they feel are justified because of the color of their skin. The author knew just what nerves to press to get you emotionally invested in the story.

#NetGalleyARC I really enjoyed this author's writing and works. I like that Harris tackles topics that are present in our lives and doesn't do so in a superficial way. I do wish YA authors would get out of the trend of time jumps, flashbacks, and multiple POVs. This book wasn't too heavy on this stuff but it was present. A great read that I will for sure purchase for my HS library.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm writing my review the day after completing this book because I needed to let it set in my spirit for a while. I absolutely loved this book!!!!! I loved the character of Naomi and her evolution throughout the story. Growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood; trying to grow into the person she wants to be, not who she's expected to be; wanting to be more connected to her history because she's never truly been exposed to it, I can truly empathize. Naomi has the unfortunate realization that she is different and she has to decide how to deal with it. I’m glad she had parents that she could turn to when things became really difficult at school and in life.

Adolescent friendships can be difficult to navigate. I appreciated the relationship between Naomi and the twins and how it shows that children are truly innocent. Having said that, teenaged Kylie and Connor were clueless, but how is Naomi to deal with this? I think it took her a little too long to see some of these characters’ true colors. The only saving grace is that they truly didn’t know any better. In a world of Cleo's, Orlando's (what a shame) and Mr. Brooks, thank goodness for the Faith's and Roma's who support Naomi and try to keep her grounded.

As previously stated, I really enjoyed this book. My only complaint is that I don’t understand why the particular character was sacrificed in the bombing. I think that a major character would’ve made more of an impact.


I will definitely be recommending this book to my students because I feel that so many of them can resonate with it.

This Town is on Fire is an excellent follow-up to Harris' debut novel, When You Look Like Us. I highly recommend both books to both YA and adult readers.

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

There’s a lot to love about this book, so let’s start with the positive things:

First off, I love how Naomi’s journey unfolds as she comes to grips with her best friend becoming an internet-famous “Becky.” There’s some thoughtful back and forth on race and what’s excusable versus a talking point and a chance to call in your friends. There’s a fair bit of nuance to the relationship between “Ky and Ny,” the two best friends around whom the story revolves.

The end, however, didn’t land right for me. It felt like a “gotcha,” pulling a punch that I don’t think was necessary for the story to work in the first place. That said, the framework of having a high-drama event to get the book started and then flashbacks leading up to the present worked well as a hook. I do feel like the story sacrificed some sincerity for the sake of action, but overall, I enjoyed it. I can see this being adapted into film; the descriptions had a cinematic quality, with lots of descriptions of dance and cheer moves.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

This Town Is on Fire follows Black teen Naomi as her senior year is turned on its axis when her best friend, a white girl, is caught on film calling the police on two young Black men.

This Town Is on Fire is a tough read, as the story deals closely with racism, both in terms of microaggressive acts and overt racist acts. The story also deals closely with protest, activism, and regularly discusses the COVID pandemic. I think ultimately, a lot of what is discussed here about race and racism is incredibly important. Naomi finds herself caught between the expectations of her friend and the expectations of the other Black students at her school, and the way she navigates that -- first semi-reluctantly trying to help her friend, and ultimately turning to an activist group later -- is incredibly poignant and I think puts the reader in a position where they must consider their stance on these issues.

My one hesitation is that I don't feel clear on where this narrative ultimately stands in the matters of racism, activism, and the consequences of racist behavior. Generally I felt like I was with the narrative the entire time, but the end threw me off. We see the most egregious actor suffer proportionate consequences, but there are other characters that participate or perpetuate racist behaviors who don't seem to suffer any realistic consequences for their actions. While I understand that, to an extent, this is realistic, it did kind of bother me that there wasn't any notable consequences or demonstrated growth or changes in behavior from these characters. I'm just not sure whether the intention here was that they may grow in the future, or what stance the narrative was trying to take.

Overall, this was an engaging book that deftly tackles some very important topics, and I think is an excellent read for the modern era.

**Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This review is my opinion**

THIS BOOK WAS ON FIRE!!!! I have been on the hunt for good books that accurately portray BIPOC characters in an awesome light. The beginning grabbed me right away and held me down until the very end. Sadly, it is thought the racial issues aren't "that big a deal" anything more, but this is totally untrue. As someone who is half Black and half white, this spoke to me in ways other books have not. Growing up, I couldn't really find books with Black characters that felt Real. Pamela N. Harris did an amazing job!

First and foremost I want to thank Netgalley and Quill Tree Books for my advanced copy.

We're in 2023 and many of us think that race relations aren't an issue. But This Town Is on Fire is the perfect example that we still have so much more to do. Naomi has every right to want to be a normal popular high school student, but by questioning how and where she fits into the world as a person of color changes the dynamics in her life more than she could possibly know.

Reading this in heavy world where we've had pandemics, protests, and violence a lot made this read much heavier than I was expecting. There were times where Naomi, Kylie and crew seemed more naive than I expected an 18 year old to be. I know at that age I was more aware of things going on and figured that these kids would to but it was like they had wool over their eyes and that was a bit hard for me to overlook sometimes because I wanted to reach in there and smack them.

This gave me How to Get Away With Murder vibes because you start in the present and work your way back to that given moment. That type of reading experience allowed me to form opinions about how she was being treated during those "present" times, but it also allowed me to be fully informed from the "past" moments.

Overall, I Harris did an excellent job discussing race relations and dealing with problematic people, police violence, and greed in America. I think this was a great read and should absolutely be read but also acknowledge trigger warnings.

A beautiful story that tackles some tough topics, like addressing racism and taking the steps to correct close friends and acquaintances’ racist behavior. Definitely recommending this one to my students!