Once You Know This

Fifth-grader Brittany lives on Chicago’s West Side, where poverty and crime make it difficult for her to imagine or plan for a future. Her mother’s abusive boyfriend is another source of danger and uncertainty at home. Brittany wants a better life for herself, her mother, and her baby brother, and she gathers the courage to work toward making that change. The story centers on her hopes for her family and her struggle to envision a safer future.