THIS IS NOT A PERSONAL STATEMENT

An unconventional coming-of-age story.

Filipina American Perla has earned the unwanted nickname Perfect Perlie Perez. At the tender age of 16 she is a senior at Monte Verde, a top-notch California public high school. Her ambitious professional parents, who come from modest backgrounds and are conscious of the obstacles of racism, constantly demand excellence in academics as well as physical appearance. The next steps mapped out for her are attending prestigious Delmont University, followed by medical school. So when Perla is rejected by Delmont, she has no idea how to cope. Unwilling to disappoint everyone who has supported her, she fakes an acceptance letter and reapplies for the spring semester. Armed with a meticulous spreadsheet, Perla claims she got a full-ride scholarship, draws on her personal savings, and sneaks into an unused dorm room. Making a calculated plan to get to know Delmont students and figure out how they were admitted, she befriends freshman Tessa Rivera. Perla didn’t anticipate the guilt and stress of struggling with lies and dwindling funds. It doesn’t help that she is pulled toward an interactive entertainment major. While Perla’s ability to successfully maintain the subterfuge and trespass on campus for a month may strain credulity, her well-paced personal growth, during which she questions her competitiveness and explores her real interests, makes for a compelling read that will speak to the many readers who will understand her motivations all too well.

An intense and heartfelt romp.