She just wanted to be seen.
Like the worn bunny toy she keeps hidden at home, Simone has spent her life hoping to be seen. When she joins her school's elite drum major club, she finally gets her chance—only to discover that some are chosen for the front row, and some are left behind.
GENRE TAGS
Primary Genre:
· Young Adult Fiction
· Contemporary Fiction
Secondary Genres:
· Literary Fiction
· Coming of Age
· Social Themes / Prejudice & Racism
Themes:
· Colorism in Thailand
· Beauty standards
· Identity
· Belonging
· Friendship
· Self-acceptance
____________
Some toys get chosen. Some get left behind.
Simone has always been the bunny on the shelf—the one no one picks. At school, she sits in the front row of class but the back row of life, invisible to everyone except the girl who uses her for notes.
When she joins the elite drum major club, Simone finally sees a path to belonging. She practices until her legs ache. She learns every step, every count, every angle. She's better than most of the front row.
But the front row isn't based on talent.
In a world that only sees pale skin, Simone must decide: keep begging to be chosen by people who will never choose her, or find her own kind of belonging—with the other bunnies who've been left behind.
A novel about colorism, friendship, and the difference between being loved and being real.