Summer, 1991. The people of Cuba are living in el periodo especial en tiempos de paz - the special period in times of peace. That's what the government insists that this era must be called, but the reality behind these words is starvation. Hunger has made Liana brave: she finds the courage to skip a summer of so-called volunteer farm labor, even though she risks government retribution. Amado also refuses to comply, so he wanders alone, trying to discover rare sources of food. United by a chance encounter, they soon discover that love can feed their souls and hearts - but is it enough to withstand el periodo especial? This story is told in their alternating voices - alongside the perspective of the stray dog that brought them together. -- description adapted from jacket.