Maggie Murphy, 12 years old in the summer of 1972, is awakening to her world. Awkward, chubby, and shy, Maggie is an outcast among Catholic school peers. Her home life, punctuated by her parent's nightly alcohol-fueled fights, is equally miserable. Patty, her rebellious 16-year-old older sister, adds to the chaos of the house.

But there is one bright, safe place in Maggie's life, her best friend Richie. Since meeting at the playground six years earlier, Maggie and Richie have been inseparable, playing with dolls, roller-skating, and working on dances Richie choreographs in his garage. However, Maggie's stern and difficult mother disapproves of the friendship for many reasons, but Maggie suspects the main reason is that Maggie is white, and Richie is Black.

Hovering on the brink of adolescence, Maggie and Richie hope this summer will bring them more freedom, and a reprieve from the misery of school. But a shocking murder in town threatens to destroy everything Maggie loves. Emboldened by her love for the murder victim and the main suspect, Maggie embarks on a clandestine investigation. But when she unearths suspects close to home, will she have the courage to pursue the truth? Is Maggie's faith in herself enough to keep her going when everything else falls apart?