The lives of high school seniors Parisa Naficy and Gabriela Gonzales couldnât be more different. Parisa, an earnest and privileged Iranian American, struggles to live up to her own impossible standards. Gabriela, a cynical Mexican American, has all the confidence Parisa lacks but none of the financial stability. She canât help but envy Parisaâs posh lifestyle whenever she hears her two moms argue about money. Despite their differences, as soon as they met on the first day of freshman year, they had an âus versus the worldâ mentality. Whatever the future had in store for themâthe pressure to get good grades, the litany of family dramas, and the heartbreak of unrequited loveâthey faced it together. Until a global pandemic forces everyone into lockdown. Suddenly senior year doesnât look anything like they hoped it would. And as the whole world is tested during this time of crisis, their friendship will be, too.
With equal parts humor and heart, Parisaâs and Gabrielaâs stories unfold in a mix of prose, text messages, and emails as they discover new dreams, face insecurities, and confront their greatest fears.
Teen readers looking for realistic city settings and urban themes will enjoy these often-gritty titles that deal with contemporary situations and feature ethnically and culturally diverse characters. These titles will have special appeal for urban teens who want to see their own lives reflected in the books they read. Readers interested in the excitement and challenges of a city setting will also be drawn to the 12 books that comprise this category.