Filled with despair by the loss of her mother in a car accident, eleven-year-old bi-racial Alice finds it hard to accept that her father Grant wants to start a new life. She resents their cozy new bungalow in small town Ontario and longs for her mum. In Alice's recurring nightmares of the car accident, her dad's drinking is to blame for the crash. Grant's drinking problem also affects her waking life. Alice is emotionally withdrawn. In her predominantly white middle school, Alice finds it hard to make friends. Even though her teacher Ms. Anthony tries to reach out to her, Alice feels isolated. One night, Grant passes out drunk when Alice is waiting for him to pick her up after the reading club. When Alice gets home she dumps a bucket of cold water on his head in an angry rage. This moment is a revelation for Grant, who decides to quit drinking once and for all. Alice wants to believe that her father can change, but she is afraid because he has let her down before.