A review by shinesalot
Rafa and the Real Boy by Emily Juniper

5.0

My favorite thing about Emily's writing is how she connects with the reader, right to your core. Just like her poetry, I felt like I knew her characters, like they were people I went to school with, people I could have cried with, shared secrets and snacks with on a fall day, the experience is visceral with her writing. From the first page to the last, you are enveloped in Rafa's confusing and emotional world - filled with mystery and pain - you will stay up way beyond a reasonable bedtime to unravel it. Then you will be picking your heart up off the floor as you reconcile with the bravery and vulnerability these young people endure to find justice and peace.