The Secret Battle of Evan Pao

Evan Pao and his family leave California for the quiet, tradition-bound town of Haddington, Virginia, hoping a fresh start will let them escape the shadow of his father's notoriety. At his new middle school, Evan makes friends but quickly becomes the target of Brady Griggs, a bully determined to expose Evan's family secret and prey on the town's prejudice. As bullying and cultural bias escalate, Evan must choose between staying invisible and standing up for his identity. The story follows a middle-schooler's struggle with prejudice, loyalty, and the battle to claim his own history in a community that expects conformity.