An inspiring debut middle grade novel-in-verse about Rain, who must overcome sadness after her all-star brother is badly beaten up at a frat party. Genesis Begins Again meets Brown Girl Dreaming in this powerful story of perseverance, family, and hope. "A gorgeous debut: a necessary, cathartic, immersive healing experience."--Kirkus (starred review) Rain is keeping a big secret from everyone around her: She's sad. All the time. Rain struggles with her image and feels inferior to her best friend, Nara. Not even her all-star student-athlete big brother (and personal superhero), Xander, can help Rain with her dark thoughts and low self-esteem. And when Xander becomes the victim of violence at a predominantly white university, Rain's life and mind take a turn for the worse. But when her favorite teacher, Miss Walia, invites her to an after-school circle group, Rain finds the courage to help herself and her family heal. Like the rain, she is both gentle and a force, finding strength to rise again. "You can't help but fall in love with this book. Heartbreaking, emotional, and a ride well worth taking." --Marie Arnold, author of The Year I Flew Away and I Rise "Everyone who reads this will be inspired by Rain's dedication to finding healing." --Elisabet Velasquez, author of When We Make It A 2023 Bank Street Books Best Children's Book of the Year for ages 12-14 in Fiction (Contemporary Issues)!

In the companion novel to the critically acclaimed Rain Rising, Rain must once again find the strength to rise above. The start of the school year is bringing a lot of changes for Rain: New school. No Circle Group. No Dr. McCalla. No Miss Walia. No step team. And Xander, her older brother and superhero, is away at college. Although everyone else seems okay with change, Rain struggles to open up to her new counselor, her mom, Umi, Alyssa, and even Xander, who seems to have forgotten all about her while away at college. But when an older boy starts giving Rain more attention than she asked for--will she be able to open up again before things go too far? As Kirkus said of Rain Rising: "A gorgeous debut: a necessary, cathartic, immersive healing experience." Readers will be eager to follow Rain in this companion novel. Like the rain, she is both gentle and a force, finding strength to rise again.