This is the intimate first-person account of a young woman's coming-of-age in Somalia. The daughter of tribal leaders, Aman recounts her dramatic life while at the same time illuminating an innocent childhood romance with a white boy that leads to murder; her circumcision ceremony; an unwanted marriage at the age of 13; and her escape to the city where her beauty and curiosity lead her into a world of white men, parties and runaway girls.