Breathe and Count Back from Ten

Verónica is a senior high school student who has immigrated to the United States from Peru. She has had to navigate countless adversities due to her physical disability. When she meets Sam, whom her conservative, overprotective parents would never allow her to see, they secretly develop a relationship in which they support each other and build their self-confidence and identities. The well-developed characters and their deep relationships help highlight themes of discrimination, gender, inclusion, ableism, and equity. This book is suitable for literature circles or a whole-class read-aloud in a secondary classroom. Students can discuss immigration, disability rights, coming of age into your sexuality, and bodily agency. Teachers may prompt students to further explore the themes through inquiry-based projects.