Emmylou’s classmates are excited to share their family trees filled with abuelas and zaydes, uncles and cousins so numerous they won’t all fit. Emmylou is worried about what everyone will think of her small tree—just Emmylou and Mama—but when she asks Mama about other family members, Mama’s lips press together tight, tight, tight. It’s only when Emmylou is drawn into the embrace of her community that she realizes family is more than the one you’re born into, and chosen family is just as important as any other kind.