Ortiz, Raquel M.

After a bad school day, Sofi is transported from a New York City community garden to the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and helps composer Juan Luis and artist Guerlande.

Young Julia struggles with the steps to the Afro-Puerto Rican dance known as bomba, but when she stops trying so hard and listens and feels the beat of the drums, she is able to relax, enjoy herself, and do the steps perfectly.

On the way back from the neighborhood store, young Sof?a is drawn to a realistic mural of Old San Juan. The painting seems to come to life and Sof?a dances, sings, and conquers her fear of the trickster character in the mural before being called back home by her mother.