Twelveyearold Nellie Lee's family moves north to Chicago in hopes of escaping the racism of the rural south and taking advantage of the opportunities in the city, but instead they discover a new kind of prejudice within their own race.
Nellie Lee Love moves north with her fmaily to Chicago -- the land of opportunity -- hoping to escape the racism of the rural south. Mamma believes a new start will help Nellie Lee's sister Erma Jean, who stopped speaking after a mysterious but horrifying event only she witnessed. Though life in this northern city, is exciting, Nellie Lee sees that racism knows no boundaries. When a group of boys threaten Nellie Lee, Erma Jean finds her voice just in time to fend them off. Through the love of their family, both sisters learn that they possess the strenght to triumph.