Baseball player Jose Mendez worries about his poor performance with the bat and fears disappointing his father, a former ballplayer with an outstanding batting average.

When factory workers clash with the cigar company owners, threatening the jobs of her grandfather and the other lectores--those who read to the Spanish-speaking workers--thirteen-year-old Bella looks to the radio to keep the tradition going.

Eleven-and-a-half-year-old Valentina Salazar grew up as a monster protector until her father's loss, but when a video of a mythical egg appears, Valentina convinces her older brother and sister to help her find and save it--all while avoiding the monsterhunters who want to destroy it.