As a thirteen-year old girl in Pakistan, Amal struggles to continue her education. She is intelligent and longs to be a teacher. Her father has threatened to take her out of school to care for her younger sisters; when her mother falls into a depression, and Amal is forced to continually miss school, her dreams recede.

Escaping from household duties one day, Amal runs afoul of the wealthy corrupt landowner and is forced to become his servant to pay off her father's debts. Although her father promises to pay his debt and rescue her soon, his promise is empty, and her hopes further recede.

In this well-crafted and moving story, a fine brave heroine suffers, resists, and learns what it will take to change the plight of indentured servants.