Twelve-year-old Juillet is preparing for the worst summer ever. She and her mom are staying at the California seaside for a month, where her mom will be working at the local hospital and Juillet will be on her own, as usual. Meanwhile, her dad is off in Europe with his new girlfriend. And she’s not even allowed to talk to her best friend, Fern, who took the blame for Juillet’s goth-girl clothes and “not-real” fears, like sharks, tsunamis, and the number three. Thankfully, Juillet meets Summer, a local surfer girl who knows the coolest people around town. With free-spirited and adventurous Summer, Juillet begins to come out of her shell and face the things that have been troubling her. But when Summer finally reveals her own painful secret, it’s Juillet’s turn to be the strong and supportive friend.