Victim

More about the book

There’s a fine line between bending the truth and telling bold-faced lies, and Javier Perez is willing to cross it. This fearless satire follows a hustler from the Bronx who sees through the veneer of diversity initiatives and decides to cash in on the currency of identity. Javier learns early on how to manipulate his background—a murdered drug dealer dad, a cash-strapped single mom, and a best friend serving time for gang activity—into an advantage. This narrative, crafted just right, is precisely what college admissions committees desire, leading Javi to a full scholarship at a prestigious university and closer to his dream of becoming a famous writer. As a college student, Javi embellishes his life story until it’s devoid of truth, with only occasional letters from his childhood best friend, Gio, grounding him in reality. After graduation, a viral essay catapults him to a prominent journalism role, where editors praise his “unique perspective.” Yet, Gio knows Javi’s true self and sees through his facade. When Gio is released from prison and Javi offers him a cut of his success, the question arises: will Gio play along with Javi’s charade, or will it all come crashing down? This satirical exploration of trauma narratives also tenderly portrays friendship, questioning what real diversity looks like and how far one man will go to shape his story.