A Guyanese American girl navigates her first crush, family expectations, and her beloved grandmother’s worsening Alzheimer’s in this heartfelt middle grade novel in verse about finding your voice and carrying family stories forward.

Mina was named after her grandmother, Aminah with an h.

All her life, Mina has felt tucked between the folds of her grandmother’s name, wrapped in stories of Nani’s home in Guyana, of fair maids and mermaids, of restless tree spirits and fireballs. But Mina’s favorites are the stories about Nani herself—a determined little girl who dreamed of an education and a life without limits.

When Mina starts eighth grade, her world begins changing all at once. Nani’s Alzheimer’s is getting worse. Her parents’ expectations feel heavier than ever. And her best friend, Isabella, suddenly makes Mina’s heart race.

Desperate to hold on to the person who always understood her, Mina begins weaving Nani’s memories into a story she can tell back to her—the story of a girl who fought to learn, found the courage to dream, and built a life far from home.

As Nani’s memories fade, Mina discovers that stories can do more than preserve the past. They can carry the people we love forward—and help us find our own way, too.