I was watching season two of Pose when I remembered that I owned a copy of this book. I appreciated a look into what it’s like for young people with HIV/AIDS. Emmy was four when she was diagnosed as HIV-positive. Now she’s thirteen. She experiences all the phases of grief throughout this story after losing her mom to AIDS.

This book was published in 2009. I want to point out the use of the phrase “Indian style” for sitting cross-legged and a conversation between the main character and her mom’s best friend (Lisa) about an “Indian name” for Lisa’s baby being “Chief Fist to Face” because of how the baby sits. As well as: “He was born to be a chief.” These are white characters saying these things, which makes it problematic.