In the epigraph to the novel, Ortíz Cofer includes a quote in English and Spanish by the famous author Pablo Neruda. The quote describes poetry “looking for” the narrator.

The opening pages of the novel serve as an introduction to the protagonist, María, who describes a “beautiful day / even in this barrio” (1). María then goes on to describe her different selves: “María Alegre / who was born on a tropical island” and María Triste, who is her sadder self in New York City (1). The poem concludes with María saying that she is neither her Alegre nor her Triste self.

In New York City, María lives in a basement apartment from which she can watch the street. Her mother is still in Puerto Rico, and María describes her time spent alone while her father is working. She has a hopeful tone, describing how she will break through the “surface” eventually (3).

As María adjusts to her new life, she writes a letter to her mother that reflects on her new school, which “looks like a prison” (4).