Fourteen-year-old Carolina has been through a terrible loss. As she struggles to speak openly to her new boyfriend and to relate to her distant, sad mother, the reader slowly realizes the nature of their shared tragedy. Through letters to her sister and by using her father's camera, Carolina tries to see the past clearly and find a path to an uncharted future. Though she feels she cannot bear any more pain, her strong character sees her through the wrenching changes in her life. Carolina's clear vision and sense of humor help her to find her way and connect to her boyfriend, her mother, and a life with new purpose and hope.