Author: Marie Arnold
Genre: YA Fiction
Publication Date: September 9th, 2025
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Rating: 💥💥💥💥💥
About The Book:
In this haunting story about family, legacy, and sacrifice, a young Black girl living in a Texas sundown town must find the courage to stand up for what’s right even when it means facing impossible choices—perfect for fans of Dear Martin and The Hate U Give.
Fifteen-year-old Lala Russell is doing a bad job at being a Black girl. She has social justice fatigue, and she doesn't want to join the Black Alliance Club at her school (even though she agrees with them). A gifted cellist, she’s focused on leaving her small town and accomplishing her goals and dreams. But Lala has also inherited another gift, her grandmother Sadie's gift of foresight. She has visions of the future—and they always come true.
In Davey, the Texas sundown town she lives in, there is growing tension, as a Black organization attempts to diversify the nearly all-white part of town. Amidst violent protests, Lala has a vision. In it, a Black teenage boy is shot in the chest by a white homeowner. Now Lala has a mission: find the boy and save him.
But Grandma Sadie has a vision too. After the boy's murder, a wave of protests breaks out. And the outrage over the casual and frequent slaying of unarmed Black children will result in unprecedented change. Change that won’t happen if the vision is altered. Lala is faced with an existential question—can she allow herself to sacrifice one life to, in turn, save many? And if so, whose life will she choose?
My Thoughts
Wow. I'm still processing what I just read, but this book was nothing short of spectacular. It was educational, entertaining and at times, heartbreaking. Although its geared for ya audiences, adults can benefit from the contents of this story. My favorite thing about this story was LaLa, especially the fact that she plays a strong instrument (both of my brothers did as well, and that is not always common in Black families). The author wrote her character so well, and I loved how she grew throughout the story. I also lived how the author tackled some tough topics, including racism and sundown towns. The story is heavy at times, but its well worth the read. This is one of those books I plan to read again someday.
About The Author
Marie Arnold was born in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, and came to America at the age of seven. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York alongside her extended family. Marie enjoys creating stories full of adventure and wonder that center on girls of color. When she’s not writing, she’s adding to her insanely long Netflix queue and trying not to order pizza. She lives in Los Angeles, California. She is the author of The Year I Flew Away and I Rise.
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