Jennifer Shaw is not having a good start to her freshman year in high school. Her dad walked out and her mom is struggling to make ends meet. JenniferÕs stuck taking care of her little brother, which she doesnÕt mind, but she canÕt seem to get along with her mom. SheÕs normally a good student, but after skipping school, sheÕs badly behind and now failing algebra. To make matters even worse, she let her friend Sammy talk her into helping him steal from an old lady, and now sheÕs the one who got caught and is on her way to court.