Ida B. Wells-Barnett Tower. The place held such promise when it was built in the late 1970s. It was Harlem's hope for a new beginning — an affordable, safe residence for people who couldn't afford to live downtown. But that was more than twenty-five years ago, before the devastating crack scourge hit.

But the residents of Ida B. are resilient. They've built their own community and they look out for one another to the best of their abilities. Neighbors may argue, and even fight, but whenever one of them is in trouble, the whole building rallies around.

Twenty-five-year-old Brenda Carver is a welfare mother of four children who longs to be a writer; Rosa Rivera is an aspiring actress who will let nothing stand in the way of her career; Sharif Goldsby is a political activist determined to change the world, starting with Harlem and the Ida B. There's also Miss Jackie, the middle-aged, back-stabbing gossip; Vincent, the former bank robber turned scam artist; Mrs. Harris, the elderly neighborhood fence; and high school honor student Ricky, who hopes to be one of the scramblers on the corner — hawking crack to passersby.

When a building resident kills herself and two of her children, the tenants make a collective vow to care for her surviving child.

But that's just the beginning of the tragedies facing the residents of the Ida B. A shocking crime occurs in the building, and everyone becomes a suspect. With accusations flying, the tight community of the Ida B. begins to collapse under the strain. And, to top it all, they learn that their home of more than twenty years is about to be torn down.

As the search for the killer intensifies, unsung heroes step forward — at great personal risk — to right the wrongs that have been done. In Karen E. Quinones Miller's world, the people who stand out are the people who survive, and go on, against all odds, to share their wisdom and find their dreams. In a modern take on the classic sentiment, "There's no place like home," Ida B. affirms that home is a placewe love, even when it is less than perfect.

"Three residents of Harlem's fictitious Ida B. Barrett Wells Tower lead different but intersecting lives in this charming, paint-by-the-numbers novel from Essence bestselling author Miller (Satin Doll). A tightly knit bunch in their 20s, Brenda, Rosa and Sharif grew up in the 'Ida B.,' both the beloved centerpiece of their community and a 'prison' they want to escape. Brenda is a would-be writer and a caring mother of four on welfare; Puerto Rican Rosa is a foul-mouthed aspiring actress; and Sharif is a gay political activist who never even checks a guy out and whose behavior is so constantly ingratiating that he borders on parody. The book has many similar problems in characterization, but its great strength is the spirited banter — the gossip, the teasing, the insulting — that goes down between everyone at Ida B. Whether it's from a young wannabe gangster who secretly excels at science or a grandmother who sells stolen goods out of her apartment, the talk is juicy and fun. A twist-and-turn plot Miller inserts midway through involves a murder and the very fate of the building itself, but the real questions are about the three friends: will Rosa make it as an actress? Will Brenda write her book? Faced with a crucial choice, will Sharif make the right one? This is a spunky, speedy read. Agent, Liza Dawson. 10-city author tour. (Aug.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"Ida B." is the story of three resilient friends and neighbors, who look out for one another as best they can. "An excellent storyteller who draws you in from page one" (Zane), Karen E. Quinones-Miller has crafted a riveting tale, authentic to the Harlem experience--a modern take on the classic adage, "There's no place like home."