If you asked her, Robin would say that ballet means everything to her. But no one's asking Robin. Not her parents, who can no longer afford ballet lessons because all of their money is going toward bringing Robin's Chinese grandmother to America. Not her grandmother, a demanding woman who can barely walk. And now, Robin is even losing touch with her ballet friends, who are moving on without her. It's hard for Robin to hide her resentment of this foreign grandmother who's changed her whole life. Then Robin uncovers a secret that leads to a new understanding of the many ways in which she and her tough old grandmother are alike. "An appealing story that draws readers into the world of ballet, while offering an authentic and sometimes amusing look at the dynamics of Chinese-American family life."— School Library Journal "Kids who appreciate a story about fighting for one's dream will enjoy Robin's saga."— The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

As her parents' arguments become more frequent, Robin looks forward to the visits that she and her grandmother make to Chinatown, giving Robin new insights into her Chinese heritage.

Robin, a young ballet dancer who is half Chinese and half white, works in a fish store for Mr. Tsow, a brusque Chinese who accuses her of being a half-person and who harbors a bitter secret. Robin and her grandmother decide to help and end Mr. Tsow's nightmare.