For the fictional Charlie Vega, coming-of-age means coming to terms with life as a brown girl in a bigger body. Author Crystal Maldonado joins guest host Courtney Collins to discuss her YA novel about a young woman dealing with the typical subjects of boys and friends, but also a deepening understanding of how she’s viewed by the outside world. The book is called “Fat Chance, Charlie Vega.”

This episode originally aired July 23, 2021.