When the Patiño family moves from Mexico to the United States, Ana and her parents have to make adjustments. Ana quickly learns to fit in at school, and she also learns to speak English. She and her father, who works in a canning factory, practice their new language at home. The transition isn’t so easy for Ana’s mother, however. She spends most of her day at home with Ana’s young twin brothers and is afraid to learn English. Errands in the neighborhood often present problems and seemingly insurmountable challenges. Not until one of the twins gets sick does Mama realizes she, too, must adapt. Ana and her father support Mama as she attends night school to learn English, and they are there to celebrate with her when she succeeds.