"Wake up Ava! Amir is dead!"

For twelve-year-old Ava, moving to Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, had been like moving to another planet. A place where gritty streets replaced the warmth of home and dark influences smothered the light of innocence. The neighborhood quickly drew her towards dangerous people, big drama, and experiences much too wild for one so young.

And then she met Amir. Only 14 years old, his reputation as a "ladies' man" was well underway. But it was his kindness, not his reputation, that shone like a beacon in the darkness Ava. Their friendship was instant. Even before uncovering their family ties years later, they came to care for one another as siblings.

Shocked by his death, suddenly alone with no support, Ava's life begins to spiral out of control. From young motherhood with a cheating and abusive boyfriend to a chance to encounter an old flame that turns her world upside down and more, Ava must fight to rebuild her shattered life, honor Amir's memory, and make her dreams a reality!

This roller coaster of wild yesterdays, devastating loss and unshakable hope will captivate your mind until the very last page! Enter Ava's world and be reminded that discovering our true self is a messy, intense, and beautiful process for us all... if we're brave enough to believe.