Set in a suburb of Las Vegas Ella and Zachary called Z have been friends forever but Z has always been the weird kid in their class He collects stubby pencils plays chess and maintains an elaborate and public fantasy life starring himself as a brave knight Zs games were okay back in rd or th grade but by now their other friends have ditched them both Z doesnt care but Ella longs to be part of a group of friends even though most of the class makes fun of her Ellas mother is black and her father now deceased was white and shes the only black girl in their sixth grade class When a new boy Bailey moves to town he befriends Ella because they are now the only two black kids in class But Bailey is popular popular enough to make Ella cool and give her a wider circle of friends but only if she stops hanging out with Z Ellas faced with a difficult decision remain loyal to the boy who has been her best and only friend for years or pass up the opportunity to be one of the popular kids that she has always longed to be.
