When Laura's wealthy landowner father decides to transition her family from country to city life, she is filled with hopes and expectations. But the minute she arrives in the city, Laura feels like a caged bird. Dismayed about the noise and how close the houses are to each other, she wants nothing more than to return to the country. As school begins, Laura has no idea how challenging her journey is about to become. Hector is born a beautiful little boy who at age two begins developing the signs of a debilitating disease that robs him of a normal physical appearance. With all the mirrors removed from his house, Hector never realizes he is different--until his mother takes him to church with her one day. When Hector begins attending school, he crosses paths with Laura, who initially shuns his attempts to talk to her. After he pledges revenge, both Hector and Laura must decide whether to allow their circumstances to rule over them or rise above their challenges to become overcomers. The Tears of the Caterpillars shares the stories of two children and their families as they meet and influence each other in their journeys to realize their destinies.