Anita de la Torre

Anita is a girl who is almost twelve years old when the book opens and she is about to celebrate her 13th birthday when the book ends. Anita is looking forward to growing up, but she finds that the political situation in the country takes precedence over all other events.

She lives in the Dominican Republic and attends an American school. When the story begins, Anita is known for chattering too much, and she's constantly with her cousins. As the story progresses, Anita becomes more withdrawn, and she struggles to find the words to say what she is thinking. She is drawn to writing, and she finds that she is able to ask better self through her journal. This helps her organize her thoughts and gives her ideas. When she gets to the United States, she is able to tell her story in compositions that...