After 9/11, a young Mexican boy relocates to an Indiana town with his mother and brother. Facing a society wary of foreigners, he navigates the complexities of identity, sexuality, and bullies, alongside his steadfast friends Ji-Hyeok and Emily Rossi. As he matures, his youthful voice takes the form of free verse, filled with boundless potential, while his older self reflects in sonnets, crafting the systematic structure of his memories.

“Beautiful and moving. I mean, emotionally, but also the pace. Formally, it's so brilliant. The juxtaposition of free verse and sonnets, the melding of past and present, and the yearning and tenderness. Really, yours is such a distinct voice––sorrowful and shimmering and funny.

A great book.”

—Nate Lippens, author of My Dead Book: A Novel

“It develops so beautifully. You have to get to the end point! Now is the time to put something like this out. It’s just a beautiful journey. This is gorgeous work.”

—Noelia Cerna, author of Las Piedrecitas