Azael Arevalo is a gangster who loves to do his tagging artwork.  He is loyal to his MS13 homies, a Mexican gang in Houston, Texas, because his own family life is so tragic.  So it’s no surprise to the reader as they learn that the alternating then and now chapter subtitles refer to Az’s life before and after landing himself in prison.  But he doesn’t know why he’s there specifically.  In the then chapters, we find out that his mother died shortly after his little sister was born, turning his life upside down.  After his father gives up custody of his sister to an aunt and because of his alcoholism, Az and his brother are pretty much on their own.  In the now, Az is tortured by having to watch therapy sessions of Lexi, a white girl who is also incarcerated.  He quickly figures out that there is a connection between why they are both in jail, but he can’t remember anything.  Az’s language is gritty and authentic, with sex on his mind as much as why he is where his is.  The redeeming qualities in this story come not only from Az as from Lexi as both will be true to themselves, even if it’s a truth the mainstream society rejects.  Ashley Hope Perez catches both the male and female voice of these characters with the spite and tension that teens in prison would hold.  This is an additional selection to add to collections.