When Saya's mother is sent to jail as an illegal immigrant, she sends her daughter a cassette tape with a song and a bedtime story, which inspires Saya to write a story of her own--one that just might bring her mother home.
Disliking her name as written in English, Korean-born Yoon, or "shining wisdom, " refers to herself as "cat, " "bird, " and "cupcake, " as a way to feel more comfortable in her new school and new country.