Breathe and Count Back from Ten

In this beautifully written novel, Verónica, a Peruvian-American teen with hip dysplasia, navigates the summer before her senior year by auditioning to be a mermaid at a Central Florida theme park. As she strives to embrace her body through swimming and confront her feelings for her new neighbor, Alex, she faces the challenge of gaining her conservative parents' approval. However, her journey takes a turn when she discovers the hidden truths about her own body that her parents have been keeping from her. This coming-of-age story explores themes of self-acceptance, independence, and the complexities of family dynamics.