Shayla Willows

Shayla Willows is the main character and narrator of the novel. She is a twelve-year-old student at Emerson Junior High School. Shayla claims she is allergic to trouble and does not want to do anything that will upset people or make them angry with her. For this reason, it is surprising when Shayla leads a black armband movement at her school in honor of the Black people killed by police brutality.

Shayla has been motivated to get into this good kind of trouble after a White police officer was found not guilty of killing a Black man. Shayla had seen a video of this shooting and knew that the Black man was shot in the back. She does not understand how the jury found the White police officer not guilty.

Shayla wants something to change. Her sister, Hana, who is an active protester tells Shayla that she...