After his grandfather dies and his single mother becomes busy with applying to medical school, Brandon becomes obsessed with Batman and with finding his missing cat, as his Uncle Robbie returns home and tries to help the family overcome their grief.

"Nettie Delaney hasn't been able to sing a note since her mum died. This wouldn't be a problem if she wasn't now attending Dukes, the most prestigious performing arts college in the country, with her superstar mother's shadow hanging over her. Nettie has her work cut out for her and everyone is watching. But one night, in an empty studio after college, Nettie finds herself suddenly singing, as someone behind the curtain accompanies her on the piano....

As a Chicano boy living in the unglamorous town of Hollywood, New Mexico, and a member of the graduating class of 1969, Sammy Santos faces the challenges of gringo racism, unpopular dress codes, the Vietnam War, barrio violence, and poverty.