SOMETHING KINDRED

Jericka and her mom move to her parents’ hometown for the summer to take care of her dying grandmother.

Seventeen-year-old Jericka had the perfect summer planned out—she was going to hang out at the beach with best friend Leslie before Leslie left for college and work on her photography portfolio for her dream school, Parsons. But now, Jericka and her mom are on their way from New Jersey to Coldwater, Maryland, because her maternal grandmother is dying. She knows only two things about her grandmother: Her name is Carol Annette, and she left Jericka’s mom and uncle when they were young children. Jericka reluctantly decides to spend her summer establishing a relationship with Gram, reconnecting with her dad (who still lives in town but whom she hasn’t seen since she was a baby), and photographing Coldwater. As she gets to know the town, she also grows closer to local “ghost girl” Kat. Kat says the town is haunted and that there are “echoes” lingering everywhere. As Jericka’s romantic relationship with Kat blooms, she too begins to sense the spirits and feel a pull toward Coldwater. Burch lovingly explores forgiveness and memory in this novel centering Black characters that has something—from paranormal discovery to queer romance in a small town—for everyone.

A moving story about home with a supernatural twist, exploring what happens to those who leave and the ones left behind.