Far From the Tree

Maya’s dad moves out, and she “hate[s] him for leaving so fast, so soon, like he [can’t] wait to get away from all of them” (155). Maya starts to resent the people she loves, including her parents, Lauren, and even Claire. On the day that their dad moves out, Lauren cries, but Maya maintains a stony demeanor. During their Sunday meet-up, she tells Grace and Joaquin that her parents are getting a divorce, and Grace suddenly asks if “that affect[s] the adoption at all” (160). Maya becomes defensive, Grace apologizes, and Joaquin shares that “Mark and Linda want to adopt [him]” (162). He isn’t sure if he will say yes, which confuses Grace and Maya. Grace once again brings up the idea of finding their bio mom, and Maya and Joaquin refuse. Joaquin says that their mother “stopped being [his] mom a long time ago” and that he “know[s] when [he’s] not wanted” (164).

Maya asks Grace to share something about her week, and Grace admits that she “punched a guy at school and now [she] [has] to be homeschooled until the end of the school year” (165). However, when Maya asks why she punched Adam, Grace only says he insulted her family.