Summary

Back in 2007, Maya’s life at the academy in Oregon fell into a routine of therapy and extracurriculars. The staff put her in charge of two pet vicunas, and the responsibility forced her to settle down, though she still fantasized about escape. She didn’t make any friends, but also barely missed Debbie and Sarah. Maya simply tried to seem normal and stay off the staff’s radar, manipulating the therapists by figuring out what they wanted to hear. Her father and grandmother visited her after 3 months, and Maya was resentful that Nidia seemed at peace with Popo’s death. But when Nidia visited two months after that, she believed Maya was finally returning to her pre-rebellion state.

But Maya wasn’t at peace at the academy. In June 2008, when she was set to “graduate,” she couldn’t wait to regain her...