In this beautifully written YA book, Laura Resau reveals the thoughts and feelings of Sophie, a young girl who is not yet aware of her strength, beauty, and calling and is about to be awakened to all three, as well as to love. Laura captures perfectly her young heroine’s anxieties, even panic attacks, and makes us feel we are with Sophie on this amazing journey—a true heroine’s journey—she is about to take. With equal dexterity, the author captures the sounds, smells, beauty, and darkness that exist in Mexico and Guatemala. Her words put us there as surely as they put us inside Sophie! At the same time, many other characters are brought vividly to life, and many kinds of love are explored. I just reread this book and cherished it even more, perhaps because it also focuses on the dreams, struggles, and conflicts felt by immigrants who come to America. What amazes me about Laura Resau’s writing is how cinematic it is: I feel like I’m there every step of the way.