Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Thu Aug 04 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

To navigate her school and home lives through depression and PTSD, a 12-year-old Latina girl retreats into her poetry and journal.Seventh grader Iveliz plans to make this a great year despite recent trauma. Her abuela Mimi's arrival from Puerto Rico means a chance to feel like a family again, filling in the space left by her father's absence. But Mimi's Alzheimer's has progressed since the last time Iveliz saw her, and Iveliz's fraught relationship with her distant, always working Mami doesn't help to keep the peace either. Meanwhile, her friendship with Amir, a boy from Afghanistan, seems to be on the rocks, and Iveliz keeps getting in trouble at school thanks to bullies, an ill-conceived revenge plot, and awkward attempts to forge a new friendship. Going to therapy and managing her medication also eat away at Iveliz even as she tries to find solace in visions of her dad. Full of heartbreak and compassion, Arango's debut crackles with refreshing frankness and wit. The author excels at building Iveliz's voice through each poem, leading to a tale that's quick to read yet hard to put down. The creative use of varied poetic forms supports moments of levity and catharsis. Final art not seen.Superbly woven; a bold, deep portrayal of a young voice who needs to be heard. (author's note, resources) (Verse novel. 10-14)

School Library Journal Starred Review (Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Gr 6–10 —Arango's novel in verse captures all the angst and awkwardness of being a middle school student and intersects that with tremendous grief, trauma, and the realities of living with with mental health issues. Iveliz is struggling with the loss of her father, her Puerto Rican grandmother's worsening Alzheimer's, and friendship issues. She explores these worries through her poetry journal with honesty and vulnerability. Iveliz has a very clear sense of right and wrong, but often wrestles with how to speak up about the wrongs that she experiences from bullies and within her family. Readers take this journey with Iveliz, learning positive coping strategies to deal with explosive anger, forgiveness of one's self and of others, bullying, and toxic family dynamics. This powerful, realistic novel also unravels the cultural tensions that sometimes exist between the elder and younger generations. Iveliz is empowered and moves towards healing with a combination of mental health services and medication, even though her grandmother minimizes the genuine need for both. Arango does not leave this cultural stone unturned, but drives the characters to confront this generational rift. By doing so, she makes Iveliz's journey towards healing vibrate with heroism. The protagonist opens herself up to the help she needs and forges healthy boundaries with friends and family. VERDICT In this poignant debut novel in verse, Arango offers a character with heart, whom readers will be rooting for and whose story will resonate with them. A compassionate, stirring story that readers will not forget.—Stephanie Creamer

ALA Booklist (Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

In this story told in verse, readers meet Iveliz, a Puerto Rican teen who is living with depression, anxiety, and guilt following the untimely death of her father. Iveliz details the at times heart-wrenching depths of her sadness and the difficulty she experiences in opening up to people or asking for help. Presented as a copy of Ive's journal, the book contains occasional doodles and cartoon illustrations, which add character. Even though the story is mostly about Ive's spiraling, it beautifully illustrates the power of compassion and truth telling, how meaningful friendships are supposed to look, and the ways that loved ones might try to help. Most important, it shows what happens when someone is ready to be brave and speak up for themselves. After the story, the author shares some words about finding developmentally-­appropriate help, including videos, phone lines, and web pages with resources for any young person who needs assistance. This story is a great reminder that no one is truly alone.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

To navigate her school and home lives through depression and PTSD, a 12-year-old Latina girl retreats into her poetry and journal.Seventh grader Iveliz plans to make this a great year despite recent trauma. Her abuela Mimi's arrival from Puerto Rico means a chance to feel like a family again, filling in the space left by her father's absence. But Mimi's Alzheimer's has progressed since the last time Iveliz saw her, and Iveliz's fraught relationship with her distant, always working Mami doesn't help to keep the peace either. Meanwhile, her friendship with Amir, a boy from Afghanistan, seems to be on the rocks, and Iveliz keeps getting in trouble at school thanks to bullies, an ill-conceived revenge plot, and awkward attempts to forge a new friendship. Going to therapy and managing her medication also eat away at Iveliz even as she tries to find solace in visions of her dad. Full of heartbreak and compassion, Arango's debut crackles with refreshing frankness and wit. The author excels at building Iveliz's voice through each poem, leading to a tale that's quick to read yet hard to put down. The creative use of varied poetic forms supports moments of levity and catharsis. Final art not seen.Superbly woven; a bold, deep portrayal of a young voice who needs to be heard. (author's note, resources) (Verse novel. 10-14)