Set in Spanish Harlem in 1969, this gripping first novel by the Emmy Award-winning "Sesame Street" writer and actress who plays Maria is based on her own life growing up during a fiery, unforgettable time in America, when young Latinos took control of their destinies.

Sonia Manzano has affected the lives of millions since the early 1970s, as the actress who defined the role of "Maria" on the acclaimed television series Sesame Street. Sonia has won fifteen Emmy Awards for her television writing and is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Arts and Sciences. People magazine named Sonia one of America's most influential Hispanics. She lives in New York City.