This first-person narrative begins in the early 1960s when the author's father unexpectedly disappears, plunging the family into poverty. Faced with inner-city violence, her mother's failing health, and institutionalized racism, her bitterness deepens. But when a violin enters her life, she experiences the stirrings of hope. In a series of funny and tender episodes, the author shares the many struggles she faces on the road to her dreams. Young readers will find inspiration here, while adults may read this book as a moving testimony to how the arts and a strong family can change a child's life.