Carlos was a hothead like Torres, except I think he fought most of the time because he thought it was fun and was just having his friends back. Carlos’s story is all too familiar. I kinda viewed it as a blend of what’s happening in Black communities and what’s happening in Hispanic communities.

I loved Arlin’s character development. Her emotional depth and raw grief felt real and powerful especially in the quote, “How did God choose to save my life?” Her pain and growth made her story deeply relatable.

This novel's strength is how real the relationships feel. Torres, Carlos, and Arlin come alive on the page. Their dialogue flows naturally, and you can hear the way kids their age would actually talk sometimes sharp, sometimes funny, and sometimes wise beyond their years.