This Is Not a Personal Statement

Admission meets American Panda in this propulsive, poignant YA contemporary novel about a teen who, after getting rejected from her dream college, forges her own acceptance and commits to living a lie. Perfect for fans of Mary H.K. Choi! 

At sixteen, Perla is the youngest graduating senior of the hypercompetitive Monte Verde High. Praisedand not-so-quietly bashedas Perfect Perlie Perez, Perla knows all the late nights, social isolation, and crushing stress will be worth it when she gets into the college of her (and her parents) dreams: Delmont University. 

Then Perla doesnt get in, and her meticulously planned future shatters. In a panic, she forges her own acceptance letter, and next thing she knows, shes heading to Delmont for real, acceptance or not. Soon, Perla is breaking into dorm rooms, crashing classes, and dodging questions from new friends about her lack of a student ID. Her plan? Gather on-the-ground intel to beef up her application and reapply spring semester before shes caught.  

But as her guilty conscience grows and campus security looms large, Perla starts to wonder if her plan will really succeedand if this dream shes worked for her entire life is something she even wants. 

From rising star Tracy Badua comes a gripping, incisive tale of acceptance, self-discovery, and the infinite possibilities that await when we embrace our imperfections.