The novel is set in a dystopian future when a repressive Islamophobic government takes power in America and forces Muslim Americans into internment camps.

The book's epigraph comes from one of Ali Amin's poems. Ali is the father of Layla, the novel's protagonist. The defiant tone of his poem comes to define her stance towards the government and is echoed through her actions.

The last line of Ali's poem is “I resist," which is exactly what his daughter does. She gathers as many people around her as possible to challenge the authorities that have put them in these camps.

By organizing a rebellion of young inmates in the camp, Layla acts out the inspiring words of her father's poem. Though the authorities attempt to silence her, she still speaks out and encourages others to do the same. She refuses to relent in her campaign to expose these human rights violations.