First published 2023
Laura Rodríguez Colón sits in her aunt's house, staring at the single bag that holds her entire life. Social services moved her here, but she refuses to accept this arrangement. She struggles to make friends at her new school and feels out of place explaining her situation to others. Then Laura discovers a stray puppy. She develops a plan: if she can train this dog to become a therapy animal, maybe she can use it to visit her parents. Maybe the dog will help her parents heal. Maybe her family can finally reunite and return to normal. Laura faces the daily challenge of living as a foster child with relatives while holding onto hope that this separation is temporary. The puppy becomes her anchor as she navigates the complex emotions of displacement, family loyalty, and the deep wish to belong somewhere that feels like home.
Genres: fiction, family-life, contemporary, foster-children, adoption
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Aunt's House
256 pages · Paperback · Vintage Español
Content warnings: anxiety, depression, mental-illness