Books Before Boys

At twelve years old, she’s already wise beyond her years. Living in Plantation, Florida, with her Puerto Rican mom and Vietnamese dad, Thaira spends her days excelling at school, writing about life with cerebral palsy, and filling her online blog with stories she hopes will one day inspire the world. With her pink wheelchair by her side and her stack of books always close, she’s determined that nothing—not even middle school drama—will distract her from her dreams.

Then along comes Phineas, the new boy from a small town in Ohio. With his country-boy charm, blue glasses, and dimples, he’s nothing like anyone Thaira has ever met. Phineas also has cerebral palsy, but that doesn’t stop him from fishing, four-wheeling, or dreaming of becoming a doctor one day. His faith in God runs deep, and his kindness quickly draws Thaira in.

Soon, the two share long conversations, inside jokes, and even butterflies. But as their friendship begins to blur into something more, Thaira discovers what it means to lose focus—and how easy it is for even the smartest girl to forget what really matters.

Now Thaira must learn an unforgettable lesson: that God has a time and season for everything, and that sometimes the best kind of love is found in faith, friendship, and the pages of a good book.

Heartfelt, faith-filled, and empowering, Books Before Boys is a middle-grade story that reminds young readers—especially girls—that education, faith, and self-worth always come first.