• Age: 13 to 18
• Grade: 3
• Reading age: 7 to 8

Adopted by Caucasian parents, biracial teen Lizzie feels like she never belonged. After the death of her father, Lizzie starts acting out — dating, staying away from home for days and giving up her plans to continue her education. When Lizzie discovers she is pregnant, she is faced with the difficult choice of having a child or getting an abortion. This leads Lizzie to want to find her own birth mother. After running away from home, Lizzie ends up in Kingston, where she tracks down an older woman named Ruth who sheds light on the circumstances surrounding Lizzie's birth.

WANDA LAUREN TAYLOR is an author, filmmaker, editor and educator. With a background in social work and advocacy, Wanda lectures on social justice and human rights issues, and has worked for organizations helping marginalized populations. She is a former CBC TV producer and author of books that include Birchtown and the Black Loyalists, which has been listed as one of the top Black history books for young readers by Today's Parent Magazine and by the Canadian Children's Book Centre, and the SideStreets novel Ride or Die. Wanda lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Wanda Lauren Taylor's profile page

"Tackles difficult issues head on, matter of factly and with sensitivity."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"A fast-moving plot, written at a second grade reading level, will keep hi-lo readers engaged."

School Library Journal

"The text, written at a second grade reading level, combined with edgier, relatable content for high schoolers, will appeal to striving readers."

School Library Journal

"With gritty themes like teen pregnancy, abuse, and discrimination, this title deals with important issues head-on."

School Library Journal