This first book begins by describing Santiago's life in Macún, a sector of Candelaria barrio in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.

Amid the drama, one of Esmeralda's siblings, Raymond, gets badly injured in a bicycle accident.

Esmeralda's mother decides to move to New York, where she believes the doctors can provide better care for Raymond.

In New York, which is filled with challenges for a new family to live easily, Santiago experiences the difficulties of racism and learning a new language.

The first installment in Santiago's biography closes with her audition to Performing Arts High School, an institution offering specialized instruction in dance, theater and cinema.