Stream

In this thought-provoking contemporary verse novel, Salazar (Ultraviolet) turns a compassionate eye toward two 13-year-olds seeking online validation who learn to unplug. Celi dreams of becoming an influencer, masking shame about her appearance behind carefully curated social media posts. Elio, reeling from a breakup and recovering from heart surgery, retreats into an all-consuming video game habit that tanks his grades. When a video of Celi twerking at a party goes viral, her parents send her to spend the summer with her no-nonsense tías in Mexico. Meanwhile, Elio—similarly exiled for his poor academic performance—crosses the border to stay with a family friend and complete an environmental project intended to pull him offline and back into the world. With her aunts’ guidance, Celi learns the rhythms of herbal remedies and intergenerational care, while Elio finds purpose reinforcing a riverbank to prevent flooding. After a minor injury brings Elio to Celi’s doorstep, their hesitant friendship blossoms, rooted in shared vulnerability and cultural rediscovery. Though some slang may already feel dated to savvy readers, spare, briskly paced lines sensitively explore addiction, bicultural identity, and body image. The result is an accessible, heartwarming story that offers timely reflections on authenticity in the digital age. Characters are Latinx. Ages 10–up. Agent: Marietta B. Zacker, Gallt & Zacker Literary. (June)