Entering seventh grade at her upscale private school, nothing''s going right for Kirsten. Her parents aren''t speaking to
each other, her best friend, Rory, has abandoned her for the mean social queen bee of their grade, and she''s gained 30 pounds in the last few months. But on the first day she meets new kid Walk -- one of the very few African-Americans at her school -- and they soon strike up a friendship.
Kirsten''s mother isn''t happy about this new friendship and advises her to "be one of the crowd." Perhaps a new pair of boots from Nordstrom''s will help. But when a shocking family secret -- the source of the friction between her parents -- is revealed, it''s Kirsten''s good heart and common sense that will pull them through.