Since Kit's mother remarried a rich man, Kit has been living in style! She has money, rides a horse and goes to a private school. But life isn't always easy for her because of her last name-Higglby. The Higglby name is well known in this town?and not in a good way. Higglbys also have rather unflattering looks-untamable hair and stupid freckles among them. And they are known to be cowards!So this summer she has some big decisions to make: when she turns thirteen, she can change her name, and she can quit spending her summers at her birth dad's old farm. Maybe she can even change her looks. Whitney is an African American Navy brat who's new in town. She's smart, well-read, and doesn't suffer fool's gladly. Kit doesn't consider herself a fool?her C average not withstanding. But when the two of them meet it isn't smooth sailing. Kit feels life is tough enough for her, but this summer it's going to get tougher?and strange. Because Kit get's lost in a forest where she discovers her family tree-the actual tree!