Zoe and Tsehaye were born in Ethiopia and adopted by Lory and Sonya, a lesbian couple living in North Carolina. When the girls are in middle school, Lory takes them to Ethiopia to explore their heritage and connect with people in their birth country. Although her same-sex partnership has been accepted within her community for over 20 years, Lory chooses to keep it a secret on their trip. In Ethiopia, homosexuality is a crime punishable by death. Helen is an orphan living with her aunt and uncle in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. When Helen, Zoe, and Tsehaye meet in Ethiopia, a strong bond is formed. Together, the two girls with two mothers and one motherless girl navigate the geographical, cultural, and emotional space of losing and finding family.