Every summer since she was five, Dian and her parents have travelled from their home in Canada to Cucubano, a tiny village tucked into the jungle of the Dominican Republic, where Dian’s parents run a medical clinic. The village’s small huts and dusty, orange roads are far from the island’s luxury hotels and sandy beaches, and two hours from the nearest city. This remote setting has never bothered Dian, who spends most of her time swimming in the river and hanging out with her local friend, Aracely.

Now 13, Dian is tired of feeling she has to devote her time to saving the world like her socially conscious parents, who eschew television, cars, and cell phones even at home. Dian pleads to stay behind in Canada but soon finds herself back in Cucubano, with the only bright spot being the thought of spending time with Aracely.

But even this glimmer of happiness vanishes when 14-year-old Aracely reveals that she is engaged to be married the following year. Though not uncommon in the Dominican Republic, Aracely’s betrothal at such a young age is incomprehensible to Dian, who cannot hide her horror and disapproval. To make matters worse, Dian’s parents want her to respect Aracely’s decision and the cultural mores surrounding it. Angry and confused, Dian throws herself into repairing old bikes at the clinic and teaching a local Haitian boy her skills so he can start a business. Soon, this innocent activity is the talk of the village, as the locals frown on unchaperoned interaction between boys and girls. Once again, Dian finds herself at the centre of a cultural divide.

Author Michelle Mulder uses the Caribbean setting as a rich backdrop that seeps into every scene, but the clash of cultures and ambitions, as well as the conflict between teenagers and their parents, lies at the heart of her insightful novel. Dian and her parents may be atypical Canadians, but the teen’s struggle to define herself as an individual is universal, as is her difficulty in accepting life choices that do not fall in line with her own. Mulder deals with the issues sensitively, passing no judgments, and creates an engaging, enlightening tale in the process.