You're Welcome, Universe

Reach for this book when your teenager feels isolated by their unique identity or is struggling to find a constructive outlet for their frustration with authority. It is a powerful choice for families navigating the intersection of disability, cultural heritage, and the universal need for creative expression. Julia, an Indian American girl who is Deaf, is expelled from her school for the Deaf after a graffiti incident and forced to integrate into a mainstream public school. The story follows her as she navigates social hierarchies and an underground graffiti war, all while trying to define who she is on her own terms. It is an authentic, grit-filled look at the complexities of being 'the only one' in the room. This novel is most appropriate for readers aged 12 and up due to its realistic depiction of teen rebellion and the high stakes of finding one's tribe. Parents will appreciate how it moves beyond tropes of disability to showcase a protagonist who is fierce, talented, and flawed.