This book has a lot happening and needs some content warnings for mass shooting (off page), death, homelessness, transphobia, homophobia & racist comments. These are addressed within the book and used to develop character and plot. I found the story to be very emotional and powerful for the most part.

The story is told from the main character, Verdad’s POV. In the beginning, she is isolated from her fellow classmates and teachers, spending time with her best friend Blanca’s memory. This memory is still a very real person to Verdad and helps her to navigate her days and deal with the aftermath of Blanca’s death.

As the story develops, Verdad is forced to face her own prejudices about her classmates based on their various ethnic backgrounds and to examine her own sexuality when she meets and falls for Danny.

Through Danny, Verdad meets a group of queer teens, all homeless because they had been thrown out by their parents. And she runs into problems of her own with her own strict, religious mother.

Verdad initially has a lot of racist thoughts, but she starts to recognize them and call herself on them. As she navigates her new realities, she helps the “Underdogs,” as they call themselves, find support from unlikely sources. And finds support for herself as well.

There are a lot of emotional moments through this story and I love how most things wrapped up. I was left a bit disappointed in the last chapter though, where there are not only happy endings but also fractures. But then again, I’m a sucker for romance and happy endings, and this is ultimately not a romance. But still well worth the read.

Disclaimer: I received a DRC through Net Galley on behalf of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.