A world of adventure greets Elena and her little brother, Carlos, when they leave their Mexican seaside village to find their father, who has suddenly disappeared in the masses of immigrants attempting to make a living in Los Angeles in order to support families back home. Elena strikes out to find her father, without many leads or information, but armed with her well-developed English skills and luckily is hired by a wealthy Mexican-American family. Now able to support herself and Carlos, Elena begins the search for her father in earnest, encountering intrigue, crime and a mystery related to her father's disappearance. In her desperate search Elena also finds friendship, love and the confidence to forge her own identity.
"It's hard to imagine a teen who wouldn't enjoy this and that's significant because all the major players are Hispanic. . . Enough aspects of Elena's Mexican culture are interwoven with the action to provide enlightenment."
