Sonora Reyes

Rumors spread at school that Ari and Luis had sex at Manny's party. The truth is that Ari was raped. Because of her selective mutism she's unable to speak about what happened and tries to downplay to herself what Luis did. But a sympathetic voice reaches out to her on social media. It's Shawni, Luis' ex-girlfriend. She and several others have started the Luis Ortega Survival Club because they too were his victims, and Shawni invites Ari to join them and get revenge against Luis. Ari isn't sure she wants to be a part of it. Her autism, mutism and depression further complicate how she deals with the rape. Time and patience from her new friends eventually give Ari the courage to stand up and reveal Luis for his actions. A layered story of intersections that make this a survivor story with extra depth.… (more)

Yamilet is a gay, Mexican American 16-year-old who’s about to start Catholic school.

She tells herself it has more to do with being there for Cesar, her genius brother one year her junior who skipped a grade and earned a scholarship, but there’s more to it. She’s also glad to start over away from ex–best friend Bianca, who outed her to their social circle. It’s not easy for Yami to lose someone she trusted as much as Bianca, especially when she feels alone and is still nursing the heartbreak of her dad’s being deported to Mexico 6 years ago. She loves her busy, hardworking, very Catholic mom, but that doesn’t mean Mami would accept her sexuality if she knew the truth. In her new, wealthy, and mostly White school, Yami immediately faces casual racism, but it’s not all bad. She also meets Bo, a Chinese American girl who has chosen the school uniform’s trousers over skirts—paired with rainbow Vans, no less—and they immediately get along. Yami likes how outspoken and confident Bo is, but she’s also intimidated by her new friend’s being an out lesbian. As their friendship blossoms into more, so do the problems with keeping who she is a secret from the world. The portrayal of found family and the threads of love and acceptance woven into this story make it a satisfying read with a hopeful ending.

A textured and gratifying novel. (author’s note) (Fiction. 13-18)
(Kirkus Reviews)… (more)