Ally, a high school student, lives with her parents who are doctors for Doctors Without Borders. They adopt a girl named Gabriella from Venezuela, who is initially perceived as shy and unable to speak English. However, Ally soon discovers that Gabriella is actually a genius who has been pretending not to speak English. After a rocky start, Ally tries to bond with Gabriella and encourages her to participate in a math competition, which she wins.
As time passes, Ally learns that Gabriella is struggling with a rare muscle condition and has been hiding her pain. Ally's parents take Gabriella to the hospital, where she begins treatment. Ally stays by Gabriella's side throughout her recovery and eventually, Gabriella warms up to her new family.
In the end, Gabriella is welcomed home after her hospital stay, and she finally begins to accept and appreciate her new family's love and support.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The narrator's parents worked for Doctors Without Borders and traveled to remote villages worldwide to provide medical care.
2. When the narrator was six, their nanny took them to the park, where they met a little girl who had lost her puppy.
3. The narrator and the little girl searched for the puppy for four hours until they found it.
4. The narrator's parents adopted a girl named Gabriella from Venezuela when the narrator was in 10th grade.
5. Gabriella was small and thin, used a cane as a walking stick, and wore large headphones.
6. Initially, Gabriella pretended not to speak English, but later revealed that she was fluent.
7. The narrator was frustrated with Gabriella's behavior and felt that she was lying to them.
8. The narrator discovered that Gabriella was a math genius and had been solving advanced math equations.
9. The narrator signed Gabriella up for a math competition without her knowledge or consent.
10. Gabriella was angry with the narrator for signing her up for the competition, but eventually agreed to participate.
11. Gabriella won the math competition and received a full scholarship to university.
12. The narrator's boyfriend, Trevor, offered to translate for Gabriella and help her communicate with the narrator.
13. The narrator discovered that Gabriella was doing homework for a boy in her class, who was taking advantage of her.
14. The narrator confronted Gabriella about the situation, but she became defensive and upset.
15. Gabriella stormed off and the narrator couldn't find her anywhere.
16. The narrator and Trevor searched for Gabriella and eventually found her in a park, shivering and drenched in the rain.
17. Gabriella revealed that she had a rare muscle condition and was struggling to come to terms with her disability.
18. The narrator and their family took Gabriella to the hospital, where she was diagnosed and began treatment.
19. Gabriella had to spend several weeks in the hospital and then underwent months of physiotherapy.
20. The narrator's family welcomed Gabriella home with a big celebration, and she finally felt accepted and loved.