The story of the making of an autism self-advocate. A chronicle of Gyasi's journey from an early prognosis that he'd never make it beyond the 6th grade to graduating from college and eventually earning a master's degree. A recounting of Gyasi's struggles growing up without a definitive diagnosis and being black in predominately white schools. And a tribute to Gyasi's mother, Ruth, an academic who instilled in Gyasi a love of learning and always encouraged him to think and advocate for himself. Ruth's lifetime of agency in preparing Gyasi for independent living is put to the ultimate test when she is diagnosed with lung cancer and given only six months to a year to live.