Rosie is aware of injustices which prevent some people from freely pursuing their dreams without compromising their beliefs or risking their safety. She expresses her displeasure at Captain Olson cooperating with John Wilson, the ship's security officer, and Major Cepeda to detain Ricky.

Friendship in this novel involves personal sacrifices. Rosie protests the men's declaration that Ricky is a murderer and determinedly seeks to prove his innocence. Glory, Julieta, and Neil aid Rosie in her efforts to prevent Ricky from being returned to Cuba, where they realize he probably will unjustly suffer a variety of human rights abuses.

Without being overly didactic, Nixon alerts readers that Cubans are vulnerable to being accused of false charges and punished without receiving a fair trial. Sometimes people who attempt to flee Cuba because of persecution or poverty are executed as traitors. Those who are allowed to live are publicly...