Mary Jane finds that it is much more difficult than she expected to be the only black girl amongst the white at Wilson High when she is chosen as one of two non-white students for a newly integrated school. Mary Jane had been sheltered from white antagonisms, and is now suddenly thrust into a world of snobbery, prejudice and suspicion. At first she bitterly resents the role of ambassador, but slowly becomes less defensive and forms a sound relationship with her classmates based on genuine compatibility.