Isabel, a 12-year-old Mexican girl, struggles as she tries to settle into a new life in the United States. She misses her mother, left behind when she and her father came to find a better life.

She doesn't feel welcome living with her uncle and his family and struggles with the English language. How will she cope in this strange new world?Her kind sixth-grade teacher suggests Isabel keep a journal, where she can pour out the feelings she used to share with her mother.

She encourages her to take home the newspaper to help improve her English and learn about world events. While Isabel starts to make friends, she is horrified by the events that take place on September 11, 2001 in the US, witnesses a deadly political demonstration in Oaxaca, Mexico, and is eventually forced to flee to Madrid, Spain.

Willl all this chaos prevent Isabel from finding a way to feel connected to the world around her? This coming-of-age story is written in journal format, spanning three years and three countries. Follow Isabel as she grows into a young woman during turbulent times, trying to find a place to call home instead of feeling torn between worlds.

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