Life interrupts Beatrice's efforts to write about her summer vacation. Beatrice grapples with having to reveal a vulnerable fact about herself versus inventing a vacation story that was more like that of a "normal" child. Beatrice is a normal ten year old girl growing up in California's central valley. During the course of the story, she faces grown-up problems, and reveals to her classmates and her teacher, some truths about who she is. While dealing with family emergencies and economic hardship, Beatrice teaches all of us how connected we are to each other, and how much we take for granted some of life's necessities. Beatrice calls the reader to action about an issue that challenges our concepts about morality and fairness.