when small town canadian girl eliza mulligan's family moves to the big city of Sacramento, california, her life is turned upside down. she is used to people being equal, but at her new school, your race determines who you are. so when she starts becomming friends with havier, a cuban boy, nobody is happy. will she cave under the pressure to be like everyone else and give up her friendship with havier? or will she show everyone that race doesn't define who you are? either way, she finds herself put into a new way of life.