A gritty contemporary novel about a biracial Black and white teen boy's life-altering year in which he's faced with the stark reality of race, class, broken families, and unrequited love.

Zay’s ma always said his mouth would get him in trouble. Sure enough, it got him into his first and only fight in his junior year of high school. Expelled from his district, Zay’s only hope for redemption is to transfer to Broadlawn Alternative School and complete the year.

He isn’t thrilled about moving schools or boarding with his aunt and her live-in boyfriend. But he’d rather be there than deal with his previously incarcerated father and his distant mother. Besides, Broadlawn has Feven, the beautiful Eritrean girl Zay is starting to get to know—and fall for.

When Zay’s time in Broadlawn comes to an end, he learns that shaping yourself within a new place is a lot harder than letting it shape you.

A tender story of first love, broken families, and healing by an incredible voice in young adult fiction.