Carol had many obstacles to overcome throughout this film. Being raised in America and being accustomed to American culture was a drastic change to what she was about to embark on when she moved with her mother to Spain with her grandfather. Her mother, Aurora, had also become accustomed to the American way of life, she demonstrates this when she is riding with Carol on the train to meet her father and she lights up a cigarette with a priest sitting across from her.
Carol is faced with many struggles while trying to adapt to her new life. As soon as she arrives, she is riding on the carriage with her grandfather and mother only to have a group of boys pick on her. The one boy Tomi takes her hat and keeps it only after he shoots a dead bird onto her. From that point on, the two have a few run ins that make her first few days uncomfortable. Carol fought with the boy, like a boy. Carol also struggles with issues such as how she dresses like a boy, always wearing pants and never a dress. Carol also chooses to keep her hair cut short like a little boy. Carol even makes her First Communion dressed in the same clothes that the boys were wearing instead of the traditional white dress and veil that all the girls were wearing. This was the one condition for which she would even make her First Communion to begin with.
Carol also struggled with the death of her mother. Her mother knew that she was ill and came to Spain just to die. Before her death she confides in her friend Maruja, who is a school teacher that later mentors/ tutors Carol and Tomi.
Carol and Tomi end up striking up a friendship that eventually becomes a young love. Carol sticks up for Tomi when the two police men try to arrest Tomi in the cemetery.Carol's birthday is celebrated with friends and family with a visit from the three boys, including Tomi, dressed nicely in their dress clothes. Carol's father delivers her a birthday present by parachuting it out of a plane. The present is a replica of the plane that flew in to deliver her gift.
Carol's father that is fighting the war shows up at her grandfathers house to see her. He is chased and eventually flee's the country. During the chase Carol's friend Tomi is shot and killed in the cross fire. Carol eventually moves out of the grandfather's house. As a farewell gift, Maruja gives Carol Tomi's sling shot.