This novel follows the story of the four Garcia sisters, who are forced to flee from their home in the Dominican Republic to New York City in the 1960s due to their father's political dissent. The girls struggle to navigate the challenges of assimilation and cultural identity, as they attempt to reconcile their Dominican heritage with their new American lifestyle. The narrative explores themes of identity, family, immigrant experience, and the effects of political unrest, as the girls lose their Spanish accents and adapt to their new environment.

This novel tells the story of a young girl growing up in the Dominican Republic during a time of political turmoil. The protagonist and her family experience the fear and uncertainty of living under a dictatorship, as they are constantly surveilled by the government's secret police. Throughout the book, the protagonist navigates her own coming-of-age while also grappling with the larger issues of freedom, oppression, and resistance.