Looked Down Upon: The Exiled Kin by Jordan Lopez

Born into a world that misunderstands him as much as he misunderstands it, Lucas Ramirez struggles to find his footing as an autistic teenager. Dealing with poverty, prejudice, faith, trauma, and love, he feels at odds with everyone and everything. Outside of his own mother and grandmother, Luke’s two friends, Bonnie and Drew, are his only support system. As a child, he was told that his father died in a car crash, but one night, his grandmother reveals the dramatic truth. Enraged, Luke sets out on a treacherous mission to track down his deadbeat father and bring him to justice.

Young Adult • Contemporary Fiction • Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense • Literary Fiction • Diversity Representation

Length: 86,340 words (about 247 pages)

Content Warning: Racism, Bullying, Domestic Abuse, Violence