Karina recently emigrated from Haiti and is struggling to adjust to the United States when her severely abusive stepfather nearly kills her sister. She develops a relationship with Rachel as she navigates family trying to protect her stepfather, school, bullying, language, and more.
Publisher’s Description:
Karina has plenty to worry about on the last day of seventh grade: finding three Ds and a C on her report card again, getting laughed at by everyone again, being sent to the principal—again. But she’s too busy dodging the fists of her stepfather and looking out for her sisters to deal with school. This is the story of a young girl coming of age amidst the violent waters that run just beneath the surface of suburbia—a story that has the courage to ask: How far will you go to protect the ones you love?
Genre: Historical Fiction (1970s)
Representation:
Gender:
Cis girls: Karina
Sexual Orientation:
Lesbian/Queer: Karina
Romantic Orientation:
Not explicitly mentioned.
Race/Ethnicity:
Haitian: Karina
Trigger Warnings:
Karina’s stepfather is very abusive.
Ownvoices: Ownvoices for Haitian rep.