Charlese, 16, is an orphan who’s been living with her older sister Juju. But Juju is fed up with Char, who’s been kicked out of four schools for fighting and refuses to go to therapy; she decides to send Char to their grandparents. During the bus ride south, Char meets April, a young woman traveling with her baby. At April’s stop, April leaves her daughter with Char while meeting someone who’s offered her a job, but she doesn’t come back. Char has some money and finds a cheap motel room, excited to have a baby to love, naïve about the work involved and how long her funds will last. Enter Anthony, the man April was meeting. The “job” he offers Char is a front for trafficking, and soon Char is being repeatedly demeaned, abused, and raped. Her only consolation is that she got the baby to safety. Char bonds with some of the other girls Anthony is trafficking before she’s able to seize on a rare opportunity to escape. Back with Juju, traumatized Char won’t bathe, is terrified to leave the house, and feels she deserves everything that happened. Her renewed friendship with Maleeka (from The Skin I’m In ); Saturday “school” sessions with their former teacher, Miss Saunders; the support of Juju; and her willingness to finally get outside help at a trauma center all play a part in her slow recovery as this young Black woman begins a journey toward self-esteem and empowerment.
(Age 13 and older)