Valerie Alston-Holt, a Black woman, lives in Oak Knoll with her biracial son, Xavier. A white family, the Whitmans—Brad, Julia, and their daughter Juniper—live next door in their upscale new house. As Xavier and Juniper begin secretly dating, a tragedy is set in motion. With the neighborhood as omniscient narrator, this powerful, heartbreaking, and timely story depicts the destructive toxicity of racism.

Sue, Breakwater Books, Guilford