Then You Can See the Sky is the story of a year in teenager Mariko's life. On the surface, her living in an upscale suburb of New York City seems to have everything-good friends, a beautiful home, a loving, well-to-do family, and her first love. But she has always been self conscious and sensitive about her Japanese features and heritage. Her occasional feelings of inadequacy only get worse when her brainy guy cousin comes to live with her and her family. Mariko soon feels she's no longer the center of her parents' love and attention. And when her cousin is injured, she blames herself and withdraws from everyone close. What seemed to be a perfect life is only an illusion.