[3][4][5] The book focuses on a nine-year-old girl named Lavina (but is called Vinnie) whose life has been in turmoil following her father's death.

Vinnie and her five-year-old brother Mason, who has turned mute following their father's funeral, are sent to live with their grandmother in a rural Virginia community.

Vinnie has difficulty adjusting to her new school, where the only signs of friendship are extended to her by a poor Latina named Lupe, who only ever wears flip-flops, and a supportive male teacher.

Vinnie reacts poorly to this outreach, vandalizing the teacher's automobile and pinning the blame on Lupe, but she later learns to deal with her anger and makes amends for her inappropriate behavior.

Kirkus Reviews found "Once again, Paterson sets characters drawn with extraordinary empathy in a story distinguished by its overarching theme."