In 'Panic in a Suitcase', Yelena Akhtiorskaya delves into the complex dynamics of immigrant identity and the elusive nature of the American Dream through the lens of a Ukrainian family settled in Brooklyn's Brighton Beach. The Nasmertovs, bound by their past in Odessa and navigating the new realities of post-Soviet Union life, find themselves grappling with the cultural rift between their ancestral homeland and their present. As the older generation strives to forge ahead, aspiring for a piece of the Dream, the younger Frida remains entangled in reflections, prompting questions that challenge familial expectations and cultural assimilation. Akhtiorskaya's storytelling is marked by wit and insight, presenting a vivid depiction not just of a community or family, but of a crossroads between worlds, generations, and dreams.