The themes of cultural conflict, tradition, and change are central to the main struggle in How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents. Each member of the de la Torre-Garcia family experiences a clash between the fast-paced American lifestyle and the more conservative Latin culture of the Dominican Republic. This conflict emerges from their efforts to maintain the customs and traditions of their homeland while adapting to their new life in New York City. Initially, all family members feel a strong connection to their Dominican roots. The girls, in particular, find it difficult to adjust to American life, especially at first. Before moving, their only understanding of America came from Papi's gifts, which made them think it was a magical place where all children had expensive toys. However, upon arriving, they faced a reality where language barriers and skin color made assimilation challenging. In Carla's story "Trespass," she reflects on the uncomfortable changes they undergo to fit in: "[The boys] were disclosing her secret shame: her body was changing. The girl she had been back home in Spanish was being shed. In her place—almost as if the boys' ugly words and taunts had the power of spells—was a hairy, breast budding grownup no one would ever love."