As the 1950s South rocks with turbulence, school librarian Ada finds herself caught in the ugly fight to integrate the Charlotte, NC public schools. At the same time, she makes friends with Cam Lively, a teacher who challenges her to re-examine her narrow upbringing. The two young women fall in love and throw in their lot together, despite their underlying fear of being outed and fired. Ada is witness to the racism laced throughout her Southern city, the paradox of religion as both comfort and torment, and the survival networks created by gay people.