"Hurricane Friends" combines the theme of immigrants adjusting to life in Florida with some of the common issues a young person faces while learning to behave with maturity and to be respectful of other people. Bernardo handles these issues with good sense and perceptiveness. Although the focus is on the young person Clari, her family's efforts to fit into American society are significant motifs that help to unify the narrative and to give a rich cultural background for the story's events. Her father works a menial job in order to support his family, and he works at night because night work pays better than the same job would pay as day work. His efforts on behalf of his family, as well as his desire to be a good neighbor give him an air of nobility.

The entire family is striving to learn English. Clari, perhaps because...