Ladydi Garcia Martinez was born into a world where being a girl is a dangerous thing. In the mountains of Guerrero, Mexico, women must fend for themselves, as their men have left to seek opportunities elsewhere. Here the drug lords are kings, and mothers disguise their daughters as sons; or when that fails, they 'make them ugly' - cropping their hair, blackening their teeth - anything to protect them from the rapacious grasp of the cartels. While her mother waits in vain for her husband's return, Ladydi and her friends dream of a future that holds more promise than mere survival - finding humour, solidarity and fun in the face of tragedy.