Devon saying that everyone is generally cool and there's only "the one person" giving him a hard time and that the whole ACES thing didn't seem racially motivated, I can't help to think how I thought the same thing when I was one of the VERY few POCs in my predominately white high school in Utah (very mormon. very conservative). That when you're young and in that environment where you're the minority that you kind of try to ignore the racial microaggressions. Or don't want to believe them. Specially if you dealt with outright racism and felt like you had to swallow those feelings down in order not to make things worse. And feeling like a coward for not calling it out. And it just takes one thing for them to turn on you.

When the 2016 election happened (trump) I remember realizing HOW MANY PEOPLE were so racist from my school. How many of people I considered friends/acquaintances and even exs. Of course not everyone was like that, but I feel like so many POCs have dealt with that punch to the gut when you realize how many people you thought cared for you or you felt safe with were quick to turn their back on you.

I did not expect this book to bring up so many emotions from my teenage years. I think it's very well done so far!