This is the real deal—Acevedo doesn't sugarcoat grief or family dysfunction, but she also doesn't wallow in misery. The verse format is a gift for teens who find traditional novels intimidating, and the dual perspective structure keeps pages turning even when the content is heavy.
The 14+ rating is spot-on. Younger middle schoolers might technically be able to read it, but the emotional complexity—loving a parent who betrayed your family, processing sudden death, dealing with sexual harassment—deserves a reader who can sit with discomfort. This isn't trauma porn; it's an honest look at how families fracture and sometimes, painfully, heal.
The Dominican-American experience is rendered with specificity and love, and the sisterhood that develops feels earned, not Disney-fied. If your teen is ready for literature that treats them like the almost-adults they are, this delivers.
