I DIDN'T DO IT

In the aftermath of shocking events involving her family, a teenager attempts to move forward with support from a kind classmate.

Dina Soto first lost her older brother, Joel, to tragic circumstances—and soon after, her high school soccer coach father confessed to the murders of two of his students. Papi was sentenced to life in prison, and Dina’s family was harassed and their home vandalized. These days they’re largely shunned by the residents of small-town Millcreek. Dina’s mother, fearful for the rest of her family’s safety, restricts the movements of Dina and her younger brother, Mikey. Wanting a sense of normality and an escape from Mami’s overprotectiveness, Dina sneaks out to spend the weekend with a friendly new student, transgender Kai Thompson, who’s cued Black and Puerto Rican and, like Dina, learned Spanish at home. They’ll be staying at the Thompsons’ cabin with Kai’s twin sister, Kiki, and a couple of their friends: brown-skinned cheerleader Carla Gutierrez and her white football player boyfriend, Timothy Gibson. Given Dina’s father’s reputation, she receives a mostly icy welcome from everyone besides Kai. As the getaway goes on, painful events from the past come to light, and sinister things start happening. Dina’s troubled family history lurks beneath the surface, creating page-turning chills. Despite this, the comforting tranquility of Dina and Kai’s budding relationship adds another layer to the atmosphere, offering hope in dark times.

Bloodshed, deceit, and a grippingly accelerating plot tempered by a sweet love story.