This children's memoir follows Kalia, who is a young child from a family of Hmong refugees. After witnessing her parents being treated poorly for speaking limited English, she stopped speaking at school. Her selective mutism confuses everyone both at home and school, but none more than Kalia. She describes the pressure and helplessness she is experiencing as "the rock in [her] throat". This is a moving story that is infused with hope at the end. The simple, muted color palette also seems to enhance the growing pressure and anxiety Kalia is experiencing.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lerner Publishing Group, and Kao Kalia Yang for an advanced copy of this book. Available as of March 5, 2024.