This Is Not a Personal Statement

At sixteen, Perla is the youngest graduating senior of the hypercompetitive Monte Verde High. Praised—and not-so-quietly bashed—as “Perfect Perlie Perez,” Perla knows all the late nights, social isolation, and crushing academic pressure will be worth it when she gets into the college of her (and her parents’) dreams: Delmont University. 

Then Perla doesn’t get in, and her meticulously planned future shatters. In a panic, she forges her own acceptance letter, and next thing she knows, she’s heading to Delmont for real, acceptance or not. Soon, Perla is breaking into dorm rooms, crashing classes, and battling a severe case of imposter syndrome as she dodges questions from new friends about her lack of a student ID. Her plan? Gather on-the-ground intel to beef up her application and reapply spring semester before she’s caught.  

But as her guilty conscience grows and campus security looms large, Perla starts to wonder if her plan will really succeed—and if this dream she’s worked for her entire life, a dream built on the weight of Filipino American family obligation, is something she even wants. 

From rising star Tracy Badua comes a gripping, incisive tale of acceptance, self-discovery, and the infinite possibilities that await when we embrace our imperfections. 

• Parental Expectations: Praised as “Perfect Perlie Perez,” Perla has spent her life fulfilling her parents’ dreams. Now, she’s terrified of what will happen when they discover she failed.
• High-Stakes Deception: After forging her acceptance letter to Delmont University, Perla must crash classes and break into dorm rooms to maintain her cover long enough to reapply.
• Relatable Teen Angst: This gripping story tackles the crushing weight of trying to be perfect and the journey to figuring out what you truly want when the pressure is on.
• A Journey of Self-Discovery: As the youngest senior in her class, Perla has always been ahead of the curve. But her desperate choice forces her to question if the path she’s on is really her own.