Breathe and Count Back from Ten

“Seamlessly explores bodily autonomy and familial expectations through a perceptive protagonist, sharp narration, and complex relationships… . Powerful and engrossing.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Readers will be pleased to see Verónica strike the right balance of being authentic to herself while valuing relationships as a two-way street.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books”Sylvester blends the compelling struggle of a young woman trying to find her voice with the effects of living with a serious medical condition” — Horn Book Magazine”Intricate, nuanced, and empowering.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“A poignant and powerful story… Real and beautifully relevant.” — Laura Taylor Name, New York Times bestselling author of A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow”Breathtaking and utterly original… A tribute to disabled bodies and a vital addition to YA literature.” — Lillie Lainoff, author of One for All”With its deep honest, hope, emotion, and tenderness, this is a coming-of-age story I will forever hold close to my heart.” — Jonny Garza Villa, author of Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun”A gorgeous, heartfelt exploration of what it means to know and love the body that you have… A shimmering triumph of a book.” — Amanda Leduc, author of The Centaur’s Wife and Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space”An authentic portrait of a character who wants to be seen for who she is and not the limitations placed on her.” — Booklist

Natalia Sylvester is the author of two novels for adults, Chasing the Sun and Everyone Knows You Go Home, which won an International Latino Book Award. Born in Lima, Peru, she grew up in Miami, Central Florida, and South Texas. She lives in Austin, Texas.