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Description
When Miosotis Flores discovers that her sister Amarilis's fiance´ is physically abusive to her, she must decide how to help, while also caring for a rescue dog and pursuing better grades in school. Text contains violence, racism and negative stereotypes.
Quick Summary
If you know a kid who's into realistic fiction about family drama, this one really hits hard. Miosotis is a middle schooler who discovers her sister's fianc is being physically abusive, and the whole book follows how she struggles with what to do about it while also dealing with school pressure and this stray rescue dog she takes in. It's set in a working-class Latino neighborhood, so there's a lot of cultural texture alongside the heavier stuff, and the author doesn't shy away from showing how messy and painful it is when someone you love is being hurt. There's also some racism and stereotyping that Miosotis has to navigate, which adds another layer to the story. Honestly, this would appeal to readers who liked "The House on Mango Street" or "Inside Out and Back Again" but want something with more of a contemporary, issue-driven plot. Parents should know it deals directly with domestic violence, so it's probably better for older middle graders (think 6th grade and up) rather than sensitive fourth or fifth graders.