Thirteen-year-old Wen Zhou, a first-generation daughter of Chinese migrant parents, feels trapped by her parents' high expectations and ideas for her future. So when she befriends Henry Xiao, who is also a first-generation child of immigrants, she finds a kindred spirit and someone who truly understands her. They decide to apply for a selective school far from home, but when tragedy rocks Henry's family, Henry becomes reclusive and shut off from the outside world. Wen commits herself to helping her friend, no matter the repercussions from her father, and learns to find her voice.