For twelve years, the whole school called her "Trash Girl" because her mother collected cans for a living — until graduation night, when she said one sentence into the microphone and four hundred people rose to their feet in tears.

For twelve years, the whole school called her "Trash Girl" because her mother collected cans for a living — until graduation night, when she said one sentence into the microphone and four hundred people rose to their feet in tears.

The very first person to stand was the mother of the girl who had bullied her the most.

Chapter 1: Trash Girl

My name is Molly Walker.

For twelve years, kids called me Trash Girl.

I never said a word back.

Every morning I rode an old bike to school in the same faded shirt my mom had mended with red thread.

At lunch, other kids unpacked pizza and soda.

I ate a dry piece of bread out of a brown paper bag.

Once a group of classmates kicked my tray out of my hands.

"Ew, the trash girl dropped her trash!"

I just bent down, wiped it off, and kept eating.