The only person who consistently brings joy to 13-year-old Rain is her fun-loving, academically and athletically gifted older brother, Xavier. Rain and X, who are Black, have a mostly absent father and a mother who works multiple jobs to support her two children. Rain is often left alone with a heavy sadness she can’t escape. She wishes she had lighter skin, a smaller body, a prettier face. She has an overwhelming sense that bad things will happen. And then something does: While on a college visit, X is severely beaten by a group of white frat boys at a party. Devastated, Rain spirals, falling behind in school and resorting to self-harm to cope. When X is released from the hospital, his PTSD makes him seem like a different person. Help for Rain comes in the form of a teacher who notices that she is struggling. An afterschool support group, individual therapy sessions, and a willingness to communicate her feelings with her family members—who open up about their own struggles—bring hope and healing. In time, with healthier coping mechanisms and a strong support system, Rain pursues new interests and tries to love herself for who she is. Written in verse, this novel authentically explores one girl’s experience of depression, survival, and healing.  (Ages 10-13)