Lara, a Black biracial teen and her alcoholic Russian mother, Yevgenia, move from place to place and avoid putting down roots. This story follows them after they arrive at their latest residence, the Oasis Mobile Estates, where a conflict leads to a turning point in their relationship. Yevgenia is an emotionally unavailable mother, neglectful and self-absorbed and Lara’s father has never been in her life. The lack of maternal warmth and validation from Yevgenia warps Lara’s sense of self, causes her to be wary of close emotional connection, and shapes her in ways seen and unseen.

A gut-wrenching read with dazzling prose, A COUNTRY YOU CAN LEAVE is about complex mother-daughter relationships, poverty, belonging and race. I always enjoy a story about tricky mother-daughter relationships but this one really settled into my bones. Angel-Ajani pulled my attention in quickly and held it with ease. I loved how Lara and Yevgenia’s personalities and fiery relationship dynamics were captured, the vivid setting full of rich descriptions, and the unflinching focus on Lara’s struggle with identity as a biracial person. This is a sad, beautiful, deeply affecting story with an unforgettable protagonist.