Indivisible

A gay Mexican American high school junior who dreams of attending the Tisch School of the Arts finds his life drastically upended in this thoroughly openhearted debut. Though Mateo “Matt” Garcia, 16, has undocumented parents, he leads a relatively mundane life in New York City; he attends SAT prep classes to prepare for college applications, takes shifts at the family bodega, and has recently attended his first open call for an off-Broadway play with his white gay best friend, Adam. But when he comes home one day to find both of his parents gone—each facing the threat of deportation from ICE—Mateo must take on added responsibilities and care for his seven-year-old sister Sophie while the future of his family hangs in the balance. Capturing the acute pain of forced separation and fraying familial bonds (“I’m starting to feel as though there’s an invisible wall between us”), as well as the richness and depth of his protagonist’s interior life, Aleman strikingly foregrounds the experiences of children impacted by U.S. deportation policy in this weighty novel, which will leave an indelible mark on the hearts of readers. Ages 14–up. Agent: Pete Knapp, Park & Fine Literary and Media. (May)