Fifth-grader Farah Hajjar and her best friend Allie Liu are hoping to go to the Magnet Academy for their middle school years, instead of Harbortown Elementary/Middle School; but when new girl Dana Denver starts tormenting Farah and her younger brother, Samir, she decides she can't leave Samir to face the bully alone -- especially since the adults and even Allie do not seem to be taking the matter seriously -- so Farah comes up with a plan, one which involves lying to those closest to her.