Marisol Rainey is an eight-year-old girl who wants nothing to do with Peppina. Peppina is the tree in her backyard and everyone loves it BUT her. She is too scared to climb it. All of the what-ifs... Marisol is the kind of girl who has a big imagination, loves cats and watching silent films, and she must name all of the inanimate objects in her home, but she will not climb Peppina.

Marisol's best friend Jada gets her. She knows how much to push Marisol and when she needs a moment. She is always there for her no matter what. Evie Smythe? She will never understand her. Marisol's mom was born in the Philippines and her father is basically living on an oil rig in Mexico. Evie likes to point out Marisol's faults and prove that she has a better life than her. Marisol is tired of it. She is tired of put down, being scared, and afraid. Maybe, just maybe she will be brave.

This book has so much heart and the characters are perfect. What makes this short story even better is the illustrations from Erin Entrada Kelly, too! This is a fantastic book for young readers. I cannot wait to read what comes next.