The Khmer Rouge army, Communist soldiers taking over Cambodia, has been a threat to all the families living there because of the great violence and gun shooting. The people who have not experienced the immediate affects feel as if it is just a far-away story. In the village of Ream, there is the family of Tep Naro. Naro and Soka are the parents, and they have two children: Ravy, Pon, and the newborn baby. Naro and Soka’s niece, Sundara, comes to help them take care of the baby and escape the bombing in Phnom Penh. Sundara was forced to leave her family and the boy she loved, Chamroeun, behind in the city of Phnom Penh. One day, Sundara and the Teps find out the the Khmer Rouge is heading their way and in must evacuate their house and board a ship, with no idea as to where they are headed. On the ship, the newborn baby dies from malnutrition and Sundara blames herself for failing to keep the baby alive. Four years later, the characters are living in the United States. Partially due to the fact that they were among the first to arrive, the family is thriving in the new country. They have a new house, Ravy and Sundara are attending school, and they all have jobs at the Bonner’s farm. Sundara's still lingers on the horrifying memories of starvation and Pon’s death, as well as on the family that she was forced to leave behind in Phnom Penh. Sundara keeps to herself, too scared to allow people to get to know the true Sundara. The light that succeeding in penetrating her wall of isolation is the handsome football star, Jonathan McKinnon. As they slowly get to know each other, Sundara opens up to him about her traumatic past. Sundara becomes confused as to whether Jonathan's intentions are friendly, academic, or perhaps something else entirely.