From U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera comes the powerful journey of Chicano teen Lucky Z. A former skateboarder who's anything but lucky, he finds triumph and power through his voice. Raw, cool, real—this novel in verse is a shout-out to teens to find the extraordinary in the ordinary, to raise their voice and find strength in the sheer and simple power of expression.

Lucky Z has always lived on the edge—he loved to skateboard, to drag race, to feel alive. But things have taken a turn—he's living with new foster parents and a tragic past. An accident changed everything. And only his voice will set him free. As you feel Lucky breathe in life again, you will want to shout out with him.

This is his story, told in the poems he writes on everything he can find.

• LGBTQ Coming of Age: Bullied for his “fruity tops” and “hot-pink journal,” Lucky Z pushes back against hate to embrace his unique identity and find his own kind of cool.
• Chicano Literature: A vibrant and lyrical journey from U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera that captures the rhythm, heart, and resilience of a modern Chicano teen.
• Overcoming Trauma: After losing his parents, a friend, and the use of his legs in a drag racing accident, Lucky must piece together a new life from the wreckage of his past.
• Power of Poetry: Discovering that words are his new skateboard, Lucky writes his way through grief and toward hope, leaving his poems on everything from grocery receipts to Metro cards.