Sylvester writes of a heart-sinking reality for Mari and her hometown that is all too similar to our own. Now that the issues she had tried to stay out of directly impact those closest to her, she decides to stand up for the good of her community, even if it means going against her father’s campaign and putting further strain on their relationship. After the contaminated water sends the grandmother of Mari’s friend to the hospital, she learns of the growing gentrification of her neighborhood, with the erection of high-end condos in what used to be affordable areas. Mari learns that land developers in Miami have been allowed to dump contaminated water into aquifers, and soon Miami’s drinking water has been affected. Sylvester gives young readers a role model with a relatably complex life, helping them understand the severely political environment we live in and how this environment impacts their lives and futures. Pulled in opposite directions between blindly following her father’s conservative policies or discovering what her own beliefs are, there is an urgency in Mari’s story that hits close to home. Though Mari tries to stay out of Jackie’s way, not wanting to make trouble for her father’s campaign, Jackie pushes her out of her comfort zone, helping her understand what policies and social agendas are changing her city, and encouraging her to become the independent woman she needs to be. Leading the rebuttal to her father’s comments and policies is Jackie Velez, a senior at Mari’s school and a high profile activist in her community. Mari is bullied and cast out from the acceptance she previously received from her classmates. After he makes a controversial comment on climate change and Latino voters, Mari has to face the consequences of his comments at school. Mari’s father, Anthony Ruiz, running for the GOP nomination, gets a much needed win from his home state of Florida.
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