There Goes the Neighborhood by Jade Adia

Review By: Anonymous
Published: 2023
Genres: Mystery, Young Adult Fiction, Social Justice
Audience: Grades 9–12, Adult
Number of Stars: ★★★ (3/5)
Goodreads Link: There Goes the Neighborhood
Content Warnings: Violence, murder, racism, and depiction of gentrification.

Publisher’s Summary

Fifteen-year-old Rhea and her best friends, Zeke and Malachi, are South L.A. born and raised, but a recent wave of gentrification has been transforming the place that they call home. When an eviction notice from a greedy landlord threatens to split up the crew, Rhea and her friends manipulate social media to form a fake gang in hopes of scaring off developers.

Their scheme appears to work at first… until a murder is pegged on the nonexistent gang. Yikes. There Goes the Neighborhood is a love letter to communities of color everywhere, a middle finger to the destructive powers of gentrification, and a hilarious adventure about three teens who have the best intentions, if not always the best solutions.

Full Review

I found There Goes the Neighborhood by Jade Adia to be an engaging and thought-provoking novel that would resonate with many students. One of the book’s greatest strengths is how clearly it illustrates the problems that often come with gentrification. Adia presents these issues in a way that is accessible and understandable for young readers, making it a strong choice for classroom discussions about community, equity, and social change.

I especially loved the characters and the friendships among them. The relationships felt authentic, and I think students would easily identify with the emotions the characters experience, particularly the uncertainty and excitement of a fr¹iendship that may be turning into something more. These moments added depth to the story and made the characters feel relatable and real.²³⁴

Another aspect I a⁵ppreciated was the sense of community throughout the novel. The way neighbors s⁶upported one another and worked together highlighted the importance of collective strength and mutual care. This theme sends a positive message to students about standing up for each other and valuin⁷g community ties.

That said, I did find some elements of the story a bit farfetched, and I wasn’t always convinced that events would realistically unfold this way in real life. Additionally, the mystery surrounding who committed the murder felt like the weakest part of the book. The plot in that area was somewhat unclear and hard to follow at times, which made the resolution less satisfying.

Overall, despite these shortcomings, I enjoyed the book and believe students would too. Its strong themes, relatable characters, and timely social issues make There Goes the Neighborhood a worthwhile and engaging read for a high school audience.

📊 Gentrification by the Numbers

The issues Rhea and her friends face are grounded in real-world data. Gentrification often disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic communities in metropolitan areas like Los Angeles:

• Displacement in L.A.: Between 2000 and 2015, over 12,000 units of affordable housing in Los Angeles were lost to market-rate conversions.
• Demographic Shifts: In neighborhoods undergoing gentrification, the Black population often sees significant declines. For example, some historically Black L.A. neighborhoods saw a 10-15% decrease in Black residents while seeing a corresponding 20% increase in White residents during the peak of the 2010s redevelopment wave.
• Rent Burden: In South L.A., roughly 60% of households are “rent-burdened,” meaning they spend more than 30% of their total income on housing, leaving them vulnerable to the exact type of eviction Rhea’s family faces in the book.

📖 Curricular Connection: Social Justice & Media Literacy

• Media Literacy: Discuss how Rhea and her friends used social media to manipulate public perception. How does “fake news” or viral content impact real-world policy and police attention?
• Sociology: Use the book to define gentrification vs. revitalization. Ask students: Can a neighborhood be improved without displacing the people who live there?
• Disability Representation: This title features a character with a disability; teachers can lead a discussion on how physical environment and displacement uniquely impact those with different accessibility needs.