The book narrates the story of Olga Isabel Acevedo, a wedding planner with Puerto Rican roots, who goes against her absent mother’s directives to become a capitalist. Olga and her brother, Prieto, are raised in New York. Blanca, their mother, flees when Olga is twelve years. Olga’s mother is a radical activist and joins a rebel group to overthrow the Puerto Rico government. The children are raised by their grandmother. However, Blanca seems to be getting information about her children and occasionally writes letters scorning them. The children’s father is an alcoholic addict and dies of AIDS. Blanca is against her children taking care of their father.
Despite her absence, Blanca wields immense influence over her children and occasionally convinces them to resist the corrupt and inimical American system. Immigrants go to the U.S because they believe it is a country of many opportunities. However, upon arrival, the perceived meritocracy vanishes. Immigrants are compelled to grapple with the systematic institutionalization which does not favor their interests. The circumstances and conditions in the U.S draw the ire of Blanca who opposes every move of her children aligning with the ethics of Americans.
Parents play a big role in the lives of their children and their absence may lead to the upbringing of rebel children. Olga and Prieto eventually go against their mother and lead lifestyles of the very people Blanca warned them against. In the wake of Hurricane Maria, Olga has become materialistic. The young woman steals items from her wealthy clients to enrich herself. On the other hand, Prieto is a congressman in the American system to the chagrin of his mother. The pursuit of the American dream dies when Puerto Ricans Olga and Prieto collude with the hostile system. The culture of the characters’ home country of Puerto Rico does not allow them to be immoral.
