Nola has been sleeping in the gardener’s shed on the school property since her mother left her. She lives in Northern California, where the recent rain has made the weather cold. When Nola arrives to class with wet clothes and hair, her classmates make fun of her.

Many of Nola’s classmates, most notably Tina, condescend and bully her. Nola looks forward to school because it gives her an escape from her difficult personal life, but no one is friendly to her.

To comfort herself, Nola has developed a love for reading and books. Learning new things reminds her of the better parts of her former life at home.

In English class, Nola’s teacher, Ms. Hildegrand’s, questions about the assigned text make Nola think about how stories change depending on the perspective from which they are told. She begins to notice that the way others see her life is different from the way she sees it.

During lunch, Nola keeps to herself. She appreciates the food that the school provides since she otherwise lacks regular access to food, but she hates the way her classmates torment her in the cafeteria.

Nola likes the hours after school the best.