"Twin sisters Elena and Marianella couldn't be more different. Marianella goes out of her way to actively pparticipatein their Puerto Rican culture, wheras Elena is eembarrassedby their traditions. Marianella is also fighting a very private battle with mental illness, and takes her own life not long after their fifteenth birthday. As Elena mourns her sister, she tries to live her life without the limitations and rules Marianella set for her. When her life spirals out of control, Elena realizes the depth of her roots and the guilt of not helping her sister before it was too late." -- From the back cover.