Teen girl wants protection. She searches for it in every corner of her city.
...until the secret she's kept for years helps her claim it.
Carmen is thirteen, period poor, and desperate for protection, in a city where danger lurks at every corner. Everything changes when a bracelet from the local bodega leads her to an alternate world. Now, as an adult looking back, Carmen must reckon with her actions. Some magic can't be undone. Some lessons must be learned. And some stories must be told, even if no one believes them.

This is the second part to the Bodega Botanica Tales six-part series, which are coming-of-age stories across two timelines. Each story stands alone as a unique experience of childhood trauma, resilience, and the challenges of growing up.

Perfect for mature YA teen and adult readers.