Ready or Not?

She should be excited about her senior year. Photos. Graduation. Finally becoming an adult. Instead, Olena is counting down the days until her eighteenth birthday, knowing it means she will be on her own—ready or not. After her mom's choices turn her world upside down, Olena is placed in a group home and transferred to a new school. Surrounded by unfamiliar faces and guarded by her past, she keeps her distance. She wants to belong, but trusting anyone feels like a risk she cannot afford to take. As big decisions begin to stack up, Olen must wrestle with what it means to grow up without the safety net so many others take for granted. Can she learn to trust others and herself before time runs out? Inspired by real experience, "Ready or Not? I Never Asked for This" offers an honest and deeply human look at coming of age in the U.S. foster care system. Each year, thousands of teens in the U.S. foster care system face adulthood without a permanent family. This story brings their reality into focus while inviting readers to better understand, show up, and be part of the conversation. Join the conversation and learn more at ReadyOrNotBook.org.