When Ruby King’s mother is found murdered in their home in Chicago's South Side, the police dismiss it as another act of violence in a black neighborhood. But for Ruby, it means she'll be living alone with her violent father. The only person who understands the gravity of her situation is Ruby s best friend Layla. Their closeness is tested when Layla s father, the pastor of their church, demands that Layla stay away. But what is the price for turning a blind eye? A crucial pilgrimage through the racially divided landscape of Chicago, Saving Ruby King explores the ways in which history doesn't determine the present and how the bonds of friendship can forever shape the future. The aftershock of which can now be traced to Ruby and Layla.