*Slight spoilers*

This book had me needing the next chapter one after another. If I could summarize the book in a sentence, it would be a fantastic coming-of-age story with important topics regarding the lives and experiences of Palestinians and individuals in the autism community.

If Jessie has no supporters, I’m dead because I absolutely love her. I am her ride or die. I sometimes related to her and remembered my experiences in high school that felt very familiar in some scenes. Even in smaller scenes, there is so much value, and even the wording of things people say to Jessie is impactful. Her teacher telling her she “doesn’t seem autistic” was horrific as I’ve heard this in media, and people sharing their experiences about those who do not understand so will devalue their experiences because they don’t “act” a certain way. In the worst way, the ignorant people in the book feel too realistic, to say the least.

I found the love triangle somewhat funny as I was halfway through, and I was like, okay, are we sticking with this guy? I haven’t heard much from the other. The 180, for me, was crazy. But I would route for Jessie regardless. I would laugh when these guys would pop up left and right. In one scene, she went to the cafeteria essentially to be alone, and boom, one of them was there the next second. It was funny, but I could sense that both guys cared a lot about her.

For me, an essential part of the story was her family. Her conversation with her dad had me in tears about how he spoke about Palestine, living in Canada, and his love for both places, but following his heart for what was best for his family was what he truly wanted. There’s nothing I would change, and I was intrigued by the story the whole way through. I give it 5/5 stars and would recommend it to everyone. I will definitely be rereading! I need this made into a movie ASAP.