Marco Rivas wants to find love. He's sure as hell not getting it at home, where his mom's rascist boyfriend beats him up. Or from his boys, who aren't exactly the "hug it out" type. Marcos yearns for love, a working cell phone, and maybe a pair of sneakers that aren't falling apart. But more than anything, Marcos wants to get out of Maesta, his hood--impossible. When Marcos is placed in a new afterschool program for troubled teens with potential, he meets Zach, a theater geek whose life seems great on the surface, and Amy, a punk girl who doesn't care what anyone thinks of her. these new friendships inspire Marcos to open up to his Maesta crew, too, and along the way, Marcos starts to think more about his future and what he has to fight for. Marcos ultimately learns that bravery isn't about acting tough and being macho; it's about being true to yourself.