Flor and her four-year-old daughter are abandoned by Flor's husband. Flor is faced with paying the bills and caring for Betina, as she also struggles to get by without speaking much English. Once she enrolls in an English class for adults and begins working, she finds that her new life brings her new friends, new opportunities, and new challenges.

Flor's Journey to Independence begins as Flor and her four-year-old daughter, Betina, are unexpectedly abandoned by Flor's husband, Ricardo. Flor is suddenly faced with paying the bills and caring for Betina on her own, as she also struggles with limited English skills. Still, Flor's determination gets her through the hard times, and once she enrolls in an English class for adults and begins working, she finds that her new life brings her new friends and opportunities.

A modified version of this story is also available on our website, www.press.umich.edu/esl/stories.

The MICHIGAN Stories for Newcomers are original fiction written for adult English learners who wish to improve their reading and English skills