"Roy Perkins struggles in high school and has three strikes agains him. He never knew his dad. His mom died in a meth-lab explosion. And his alcoholic uncle beats him. He is sent to live with a caring foster family. But the challenges continue"--Back cover.
Recently transitioned and starting a new school, Phoebe is taken under the wing of Mackenzie Ishikawa, the envy of all girls, who shows her the value of being true to herself instead of who everyone expects her to be.
From failed football tryouts to helping the new Syrian refugee student, seventh-grader Kareem attempts to navigate the social complexities of seventh grade, which are further complicated when his mother is unable to return home from Syria due to an executive order.
Told in alternating voices, determined to make a difference and heal from their troubled pasts, teens Ana and Leandro fight to protect California wildlife and the endangered puma.
