What is the main conflict in When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago?

When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago is a memoir of her experiences as a child when she was living in Puerto Rico with her mother Ramona, her father Pablo, and her 6 siblings. Esmeralda takes on more responsibilities, such as caring for the children, when her mother Ramona is forced to escape her father’s violent behavior.