What does it mean to be accepted? Traveling between two key periods of her life, readers bear witness to Ryley giving up parts of herself to fit into a world where exclusion, assimilation, and elite institutions intersect.This semi-autobiographical tale paints an authentic picture of exactly what the cost of admission entails and speaks to anyone who has struggled to come to terms with their racial, sexual, or intellectual identity. And for those who continue to struggle, it is Bagrodia’s hope that Ryley’s journey effectively shows the reader how one person came to love all aspects of their identity.
