Fifth-grader Farah Hajjar and her best friend Allie Liu are hoping to go to the Magnet Academy for their middle school years, instead of Harbortown Elementary/Middle School; but when new girl Dana Denver starts tormenting Farah and her younger brother, Samir, she decides she cannot leave Samir to face the bully alone, especially since the adults and even Allie do not seem to be taking the matter seriously-- so Farah comes up with a plan, one which involves lying to those closest to her.