The story is about Elena a young female with Mexican American blood whos family was made up of a mother and father who were getting divorced, two older brothers who hated each others guts not to mention one of them always trying to boss her around and control her actions, her two perfect older sisters who always seemed to make her feel less important. After enough family problems becoming a Chola "female gangster" and living la vida loca was the only way she would become free from all her family problemas, the only way out of all her troubles, and the only way she felt strong enough to face lifes struggles.