A place to land
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- Parts 22
Fifteen-year-old Avery is used to being invisible-at home, at school, and in the system that's failed them time and time again. After being placed in a foster home that quickly turns hostile, Avery's careful silence starts to crack, especially when they find unexpected support in Mx. Rivera, a nonbinary teacher who refuses to look away. As Avery slowly opens up through quiet moments, the school's GSA, and Rivera's gentle persistence, the two form an unlikely bond that grows into something much deeper: found family.
But when Avery's foster mother finds out they've spoken to CPS, things escalate. A single message sends Rivera rushing from school to protect them, setting in motion a new chapter neither of them saw coming. While navigating panic attacks, trust issues, and the slow, painful process of healing, Avery finds safety not in perfection-but in being truly seen.
What We Hold is a heartfelt contemporary YA novel about survival, identity, and the quiet strength of chosen family. For readers who have ever felt like too much or not enough, this story is a reminder: sometimes, the people who choose you are the ones who stay.
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badhomelife
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