Historically Inaccurate

Gr 7-10–Still recovering from the emotional turmoil of her mom’s recent deportation, Soledad decides to attend her local community college. While struggling with all the challenges her family now faces, she begins rebuilding her life with a new on-campus job and an interest in joining student clubs. The history club, however, turns out to be more than she bargained for, with an initiation ritual that includes minor acts of trespassing and vandalism. Torn between belonging and violating the law—and making it harder for her mother to return to the United States—Soledad turns to fellow club member Ethan for solace and romance. Their relationship becomes complicated when Soledad is forced to make a choice about how far her involvement will go. A slow pace weighs down this realistic romance. Characters face challenges that are unique to their backgrounds. Soledad’s struggle to bring her mother back to the U.S. lends weight to her worries about participating in the initiation process, and elevates this story from forgettable to meaningful.