The Life Between: A Story of Memory and Belonging

By J.L. Vasco

Mari doesn't hate her Mexican roots-she just doesn't want them to show.
In California, being "normal" feels safer than being different, so when her parents share stories about where they came from, Mari rolls her eyes, changes the subject, and moves on.

Then a routine surgery changes everything.

In the space between anesthesia and waking, Mari lives an entire lifetime that feels terrifyingly real-one shaped by poverty, borders, survival, and the kind of choices that leave scars. When she opens her eyes in the hospital, the world looks the same... but she isn't.

Now Mari wants the stories she used to dismiss. She wants the language, the meaning behind the food her mom packs, and the truth her parents never forced her to carry. And when a forgotten name resurfaces-David Alvarado-Mari and her family begin a search that could finally bring closure... or reopen everything they tried to bury.

THE LIFE BETWEEN is a heartfelt young adult novel about identity, family, and the moment a teenager realizes her parents' past isn't "cringe"-it's the reason she exists.

Perfect for readers who love:

emotionally powerful coming-of-age stories

mother-daughter relationships and family secrets

cultural identity, heritage, and finding pride in your roots

hope-filled drama with a touch of surreal "what-if" realism

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GF7Q43FY
• ISBN13: 9798241993779
• Release Date: January 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 278 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"