The story begins in Saigon, Vietnam, where the 10-year-old protagonist, Ha, lives with her mother and three brothers. Ha's father, a former South Vietnamese naval officer, has been missing in action for nine years. As the North Vietnamese forces advance towards Saigon because of the Vietnam War, Ha and her family flee on a departing navy ship. During their journey, they endure storms and sickness, but Ha keeps thinking of her father and hopes to start a new life in America.

After weeks at sea, Ha and her family arrive in Guam, where they are treated as refugees. They spend several months in the refugee camp and wait for sponsorship so that they can enter the United States. During her time in the camp, Ha faces numerous challenges. She misses her home, Vietnamese culture, her language, her father, and the friends she left behind. She also struggles to communicate with other refugees in the camp, as she is still learning English and feels isolated and misunderstood.

Eventually, Ha and her family receive sponsorship to settle in Alabama. As they arrive in their new home, they are greeted by a sponsor family who extends a warm welcome and offers support as they adjust to their new surroundings. Ha struggles again as she starts attending school in Alabama. Her schoolmates speak English and follow American customs and traditions. She is not able to speak English or order her lunch during recess and feels alienated and embarrassed. School kids laugh at her, poke her, and pull her hair. In one instance, Ha gets called a "Pancake Face" for solving a math problem for her then-good friend called "Pink Boy.” However, Miss Washington, Ha's school teacher as well as neighbor, helps her learn English and adjust to American culture. Meanwhile, at home, Ha's mother keeps inquiring about her husband's whereabouts by writing letters to various organizations, government officials, and family members, including Ha's uncle.

As Christmas Eve approaches, Ha's uncle responds to the letter, providing no new information about Ha's father. With no closure, the family holds an impromptu funeral for him, marking their final farewell. The book concludes on Tết, the Vietnamese New Year, with Ha reflecting on the events of the past year and her hopes for the future.