A dramatic turn of events uproots 16-year-old Sandra Robertson, causing her to move to Durban, South Africa to live with her grandmother. Sandy, a farmer's daughter, lacks sophistication and worldly knowledge. Her life begins a journey of recovery, self-discovery and adventure which sees her through to maturity. She learns to cope with exploitation in a society where she is an unwelcome foreigner, and where no state welfare is available to aid her. Career-orientated and hard-working, determination and talent are the tools with which she forges new pathways.