At just 14 years old, Maria risked everything to leave the horrors of Guatemala, traveling alone in a caravan to reach the U.S. border. The dangerous journey left her with emotional scars and secrets she has hidden for years, even from her son, Pepe. Now living in a wealthy Hispanic-American community, Pepe feels conflicted and ashamed of his mother, who cleans houses for the rich. He struggles with unanswered questions about his father, whose identity Maria refuses to reveal. Poor Pepe is a powerful tale of sacrifice, identity, and the cost of chasing the American Dream.