The American Dream is a concept that promotes the United States of America as a place where all dreams can be achieved. It exclaims that if an individual works hard, they can become wealthy, successful, and happy and is based on the conception of America as a country that was built by immigrants and runs off immigrant labor. Though the concept of the American Dream is a thorny one (ignoring, for instance, brutalities and injustices such as enslavement and Indigenous genocide), it nevertheless inspires people like the Ruiz family build new lives for their families. The American Dream is first asserted in this novel when Ana is forced to marry Juan for the possibility of visas to America for her entire family. Ana becomes the key to the Canción American dream. She will assimilate, send money back to her home country, and eventually bring her extended family to live and work in America. However, in selecting Ana to pave the way, her family sacrifices Ana’s own sense of agency and support. Ana has no personal dreams of living in America; she agrees to the marriage out of familial duty.

Ana’s first challenge is the language barrier. Free English lessons are not easily accessible, and Ana is intimidated by the chaos of New York City.