A young girl weaves her way through childhood and adolescence seeking to become an independent woman while enduring an alcoholic father and a determined, yet uneducated mother. Does she choose to follow the boy-crazed examples of older sisters or pioneer a trail toward furthering her education? Submerging herself in books, she creates a mental refuge from the poverty and conflict in her home. Experiencing cohesiveness and love while suffering tense episodes of abuse, she vacillates between fighting for her individuality and succumbing to the pressures of what is familiar.