On her sixteenth birthday, Ruth feels incredibly lonely despite a family full of brothers and sisters. Ruth's strict parents create an oppessive environment leaving Ruth wondering, "How can I change my life for the better?" She decides to reach out to a student in her high school. When this contact turns into a friendship, she is invited to join a group called Freedom. Freedom helps teenagers become adults they can be proud of: by challenging them to question the world around them, to seek answers to tough questions, to get to know other people so they can make informed decisions about the choices that adults have to make. From there she begins on an adventure of meeting those challenges and of self-discovery. She is intrumental in beginning an organization called Sanctuary which continues the work of Freedom. This whole process changes the lives of herself, her family, her neighborhood, and the community. Yes, and maybe the country is changed for the better too.