Lien Phan Birchfield is the son of a Vietnamese mother and American soldier who is missing in action. Lien has never met his father, but is guided by a letter from him, written eighteen years earlier in the Vietnam jungle. Hes always been a bit of an outsider, and as a new freshman at Bayou City College in Houston, Lien feels invisible.

Hes not alone in his predicament, however. He has Toby, his happy-go-lucky roommate and ROTC cadet. Theres Char-a type A go-getter with few friends. Prof. K is an ex-GI, Harley-riding journalism instructor and mentor. Together, these four unlikely...