First generation American, Angelica finds herself trapped in a cultural triangle of old world Mexican customs, the street codes of el barrio, and the rules and regulations of mainstream America. Vacillating between family allegiance and a love hate relationship with her mother, Angelica is forced to make choices that no young girl should have to make.        Early on fate cast an evil eye on Angelica when, under false pretences, her father inexplicably returned to Mexico, leaving domineering overly protective Mami to raise five children alone. Fear and rejection harden Mami’s heart, and she seeks solace and strength in the amber colored liquid that she liberally pours from bottles of Tequila. Almost immediately Angelica becomes an eight-year-old surrogate mother, while Mami takes a job as a piece worker in one of the downtown factories to support the family. Blessed with the gift of words, Angelica’s only source of joy is her writing, where she finds comfort and peace when the pressures of her life become unbearable.        Things for the family seem to brighten after Mami invites smooth talking Wilfredo Acosta to the house to meet the family. Before long he becomes a permanent annoying fixture, but he does manage to win the trust of Angelica’s siblings. Angelica never felt comfortable around Wilfredo, and she understood why when one day she accidentally opened the bathroom door on her younger sister Carmen and saw the undeniable scars of sexual molestation, committed by the hands of Wilfredo. Carmen swears her to secrecy, but Angelica makes a pledge to avenge her sister’s lost innocence, regardless of how long it may take, and she sets an unsuccessful plan in motion.        This is the coming of age story of a very bright young woman born into an unfortunate situation where she is forced to grow up far too soon. As she follows the course of her destiny she encounters some unexpected twists that lead her down some dark and frightening paths.