Twelve-year-old Sumi, a Japanese Canadian girl living in Vancouver in 1926, takes her older sister's place working at Gibson's Landing so that Yoshi can go summer school to become a dressmaker. Dealing with unfamiliar customs and the racism of the time makes Sumi want to give up and go home, but as she becomes involved in supporting striking workers at the local factory, she finds new courage and a will to become the journalist she knows she can someday be.

Based on the true story of Eiko Kitagawa Maruno, the author's mother-in-law, this is a story of bravery, adventure, and valuable Canadian history.