Esperanza, an immigrant girl from Mexico, lives with her family in a run-down apartment complex in Chicago. She feels marginalized and different from the American children who make fun of her for being Mexican and for not speaking English well.
While wandering the neighborhood, Esperanza discovers a vacant lot with four skinny trees. She identifies with these trees, as she feels just as small and insignificant in her new surroundings. She decides to "adopt" the trees as her own and starts to visit them regularly.
Esperanza shares her secrets and dreams with the trees. When she learns about the Day of the Dead celebration from her parents, she creates an altar for the four skinny trees. She places candles, marigolds, and candy on the altar, hoping that the dead trees will come back to life.
As Esperanza begins to make friends and adapt to her new life in the US, she continues to visit the four skinny trees. The trees, representing her inner resilience, serve as a source of strength and comfort for her during her journey of self-discovery and assimilation.
Esperanza eventually moves away from the apartment complex and loses sight of the four skinny trees. However, she takes the lessons learned from her connection with them and carries them with her as she faces new challenges and opportunities in life.
"Four Skinny Trees" explores themes of identity, belonging, cultural assimilation, and the search for a place to call home. It portrays the experiences and emotions of a young immigrant girl trying to navigate two cultures and find her own voice in a new environment.