About This Book
Reach for this book when your teen is grappling with the weight of social injustice or asking complex questions about how history often overlooks certain voices. It is a powerful choice for a young person who feels the tension between their personal joy, like a love for music and dance, and the systemic prejudices of the outside world. Through lyrical verse, the story depicts a Mexican-American family in 1940s Los Angeles who work in the war effort by day and find liberation on the dance floor by night, only to face the brutal Zoot Suit Riots. This novel explores themes of resilience, racial violence, and the strength found in cultural identity. While the subject matter involves historical trauma and physical violence, the verse format makes the heavy emotional content accessible and poignant. It is an essential read for building empathy and understanding the roots of civil rights struggles, providing a mirror for Latinx teens and a window for others into a frequently ignored chapter of American history.
