This book is about the life of Liz Murray and how she struggled with homelessness and drug addict parents. Born into poverty, their family lived off of welfare checks; however, they were only used for drugs. Liz created a record of truancy from school trying to work for money. When her mother, Jean Murray contracted AIDS, Lisa, her older sister, and Jean moved in with her new boyfriend Brick. Liz stayed with her dad until child services showed up and her father signed her over to the custody of the state. The state put her in a girl's home until she could be released. When she was released, she had to move in with Brick. As her mother was getting worse, in part because of Brick's abuse, Liz ran away with her best friend Sam, and her boyfriend Carlos, continuing to not go to school. After sleeping on friends couches and living in motels with Sam and Carlos, Liz and Sam ran away back to the city, after finding out that Carlos was doing drugs. Jean died of AIDS when she was returned to the city, and that is when she realized that she needs to turn her life around because she knew her mother would not want the same life for her. Liz started saving money and working as a fundraiser solicitor. She applied to many high schools and was accepted at "Prep". Between classes at Prep, extra classes and tutoring sessions Liz completed one year of high school per semester. While finishing high school Liz reconnected with Lisa and her father. On her eighteenth birthday she found out that her father was HIV positive. To become closer to her family she shared an apartment with Lisa and Sam. By the end of the school year she started to think about college and funding to go to school. She applied for the New York TImes scholarship and was one of the six winners. While applying for this scholarship she applied to Harvard after one of her teachers suggested she should when they visited the campus. The book ends on a happy note when Liz realizes how far she has come, and the many "hurdles" she has overcome and whatever happens she has worked hard for it, and after all she gets accepted to Harvard.