Eight-year-old Julian Rodriguez escapes from the crisis of the moment (being sent to his room for not taking out the trash) by imagining he is a space warrior.

While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he's seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume, a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for...