Hidden away from a harsh outside world, five young people have improvised a home in an abandoned airplane, a relic of their country's tumultuous past. Elimane, the bookworm, is as street-smart as he is wise. Clever Khoudiemata maneuvers to keep the younger kids-athletic, pragmatic Ndevui, thoughtful Kpindi, and especially their newest member, Namsa-safe and fed. When Elimane makes himself of service to the shadowy William Handkerchief, it seems as if the little family may be able to keep the world at bay and their household intact. But when Khoudi comes under the spell of the "beautiful people"-the fortunate sons and daughters of the elite-the desire to resume an interrupted coming of age and follow her own destiny proves impossible to resist.