Awakening - Sci Fi that includes a Gay Character of Color!

Awakening by Karen Sandler

Once a Chadi sector GEN girl terrified of her first Assignment, Kayla is now a member of the Kinship, a secret organization of GENs, lowborns, and trueborns. Kayla travels on Kinship business with the lowborn woman, Risa, sometimes joined by Risa's wife as they collect information to further the cause of GEN emancipation.

Despite Kayla’s relative freedom, she is still a slave to the trueborn ruling class. She rarely sees the trueborn Devak, and any relationship between them is still strictly forbidden.

Kayla longs to be truly free, but other priorities have gotten in the way. A paradoxically deadly new virus has swept through GEN sectors—a disease only GENs catch. And GEN warrens and warehouses are being bombed, with only a scrawled clue: F.H.E. Freedom, Humanity, Equality.

Meanwhile, Devak's friend, Junjie, gets caught up with people and actions that are spiraling out of control. But he can't turn his back, not when he has such strong feelings for a mysterious boy he's only spoken to, but has never seen.

With the virus and the bombings decimating the GEN community, freedom and love are put on the back burner. Kayla and her friends must find a way to stop the killing . . . before it’s too late.

Junjie is of Chinese ancestry, and the book features multiple main characters of color.  Add your review of "Awakening" in comments!