Home ownership is a politically and socially charged concept currently in America. Is everyone entitled to own a home? What happens when people and companies move into a neighborhood and change living conditions to make it appeal to a different group of potential homeowners? Nathan McCall asks these questions and others in his novel Them. A predominantly African-American downtown neighborhood in Atlanta is being bought up by investors and sold to Whites at a sizeable profit. The story is told from the eyes of a long time rental resident, Barlowe Reed. He would like to buy his home, but cannot afford the inflated price. He watches the changes taking place as young, white professional couples and families move in. The corner store and hang-out is turned into a coffee shop with the card playing and discussions now turned away. Homeless persons are rounded up to make the streets safer and more presentable. Tensions mount as long time residents decide if they should sell and make money or stay and try to keep the flavor of the neighborhood. McCall is able to present believable characters grappling with real problems in this very current dilemma. The vagueness of the title coupled with the sympathetic portrayal of numerous Black and White characters pushes the reader to look at all of the facets and implications of gentrification in America.