Rebellion
The main protagonist, Anita, resides in the Dominican Republic, which is under the leadership of the dictator, Rafael Trujillo. Her family are part of the rebellion seeking to overthrow him, with the Mirabal sisters ((Patria, Minerva, María Teresa) being some of the key historical figures mentioned throughout the book.
Freedom
Growing up under Rafael Trujillo’s tyrannical rule, Anita had to be careful of expressing any form of resistance. However, she manages to convey her freedom of speech through writing in her diary. Being unable to speak about her feelings, she looks to venting her emotions through writing as a way of coping with her oppression.
Maturation
At the beginning of the book, Anita is only eleven years old and still very innocent in understanding the ways of the world. However, after gaining romantic feelings for Sam, she begins to mature in her attitude towards relationships. At the same time, she becomes more aware of the political tensions underlying her country and her immediate family. By the end, she has matured in more ways than one.
