What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Himenez

In 1996, Ruthy Ramirez disappeared without a trace. The Staten Island 13-year-old had gone to school and then to track practice, but never made it home. The family searched for her and sought the help of cops. But their efforts to find Ruthy were unsuccessful, and the years stretched on. The Ramirez women—youngest sister Nina, eldest sister Jessica, and their mother, Dolores—continue on, despite the heavy question of Ruthy’s whereabouts hanging over them. 12 years later, when Jessica sees who she thinks is Ruthy on Catfight, a vulgar reality show that pits women against one another. Could this woman—alive, breathing and whose way of speaking is eerily familiar—be their long-missing sister? This does not shy away from heavy subjects: generational violence, trauma, and the long-reaching effects of colonialism on the Puerto Rican diaspora are some of the themes addressed in the book. It asks more than it answers, and is a good read for young adults.