In the vein of Jesmyn Ward and Sue Monk Kidd, this coming-of-age novel is narrated by almost-eleven-year-old Kenyatta Bernice (KB), who, alongside her sister, grapples with their new life with their estranged grandfather following their father's death and their mother's disappearance. An ode to Black girlhood, the story unfolds after KB's father dies from an overdose, leading to the loss of their Detroit home due to his addiction-related debts. KB and her teenage sister, Nia, are sent to live with their grandfather in Lansing, Michigan, as their overwhelmed mother struggles to cope. During a sweltering summer, KB navigates a world turned upside down—her father branded a fiend, her mother’s smile fading, and her sister feeling like a stranger. Their grandfather is grumpy and silent, while the friendly white kids across the street harbor secrets. As KB experiences feelings of resentment, abandonment, and loneliness, she must carve out a new identity and find her voice. This dazzling novel about family, identity, and race poignantly reveals the painful yet essential truth of growing up: that loved ones can be flawed, and the ideal family we envision often looks different up close.
