Twelve-year-old Héctor Muñoz is out and proud and hoping to make a positive impression at his new middle school in Sacramento, California, even though it’s far away from his previous hometown in San Francisco. He soon learns, however, that no one seem to appreciate his glittery style, there’s no theater program, the school bullies are quick to target him, and the school’s head of security seems to have it in for him, too. He finds some respite at the “Table of Misfits,” a group of other students who had also been targeted by the bullies, but doesn’t quite find his place there, either. One day, he takes refuge in the janitor’s closet, which turns out to be a magical room that seems to offer him everything he wants, from video games to his abuela’s tasty horchata. He returns repeatedly to the room, which offers a welcoming doorway whenever he needs it. Soon, however, two other kids show up there, too, each from a different state, and each with their own reasons for needing a refuge. One is a Black and Chinese girl and aspiring DJ who wants to bring another girl to the school dance; the other is a Filipino and White nonbinary student looking to belong (and to resuscitate his school’s library if he can).
The three of them try to figure out how the room works and why they’re there, while also learning more about each other and their intersecting identities as the school year presents new challenges. Héctor and his Mexican American family dominate the narrative, but all three of the protagonists feel well-realized and sympathetic. Author Mark Oshiro never lets the magic get in the way of the real-world lessons of finding one’s place and standing up for oneself and one’s friends. At the same time, they never let the lessons get in the way of an engaging story that has wit, warmth, and just the right amount of suspense.
