First published 2026
Lil wears an ankle monitor and carries the weight of her latest stint in D.C. juvenile detention. The rebellious teenager secured probation instead of a longer sentence, but freedom feels hollow when you're pinned down by court dates and electronic surveillance. Her brother Aldwin used to understand her need to break free, but something has changed since he left for college a hundred miles away. His phone calls have stopped. His texts have turned strange and worrying. While everyone else dismisses Aldwin's behavior, Lil recognizes the signs that her brother needs help. As her court hearing approaches, the missed calls pile up and her worry deepens. Lil faces an impossible choice: follow the rules of her probation and stay put, or risk her future freedom to reach the one person who has always mattered most. Elizabeth Acevedo crafts a story about the bonds that hold families together and the courage it takes to choose love over safety.
Genres: african-american, contemporary, young-adult, family-drama
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, sibling-relationship
Setting: Washington D.C.
336 pages · Hardcover · Quill Tree Books
Content warnings: mental-illness