Everything Within and In Between

Gr 9 Up–After 17-year-old Maria “Ri” Fernández’s mom left when she was little, Maria was raised by her grandparents. Now, it is only Ri and her Grandma, who works long hours as an assistant to a wealthy family to ensure Ri has everything she needs. After finding a two-year-old letter her Grandma had hidden in which her mom expressed a wish to be part of the teen’s life, Ri is determined to meet her. When she finally comes face to face with her mom, she is furious that her Grandma had kept them apart. Plus, her Grandma only wanted Ri to speak English and isolated them from their Mexican community. At the same time, Ri’s friendship with her longtime friend Brittany, who is white, starts to crumble as Ri realizes that Brittany also displays passive aggressive and insulting behavior towards Ri’s Latinx friends. Important discussions about heritage and embracing one’s culture take place, including colorism within the Latinx community. This fast-paced novel highlights issues like open communication and among family and friends and addiction.