Nicole Keller has never been happier. She loves her position as fifth grade art teacher, and she and her husband have moved into their dream home in the Texas hill country. The back to school convocation introduces the district to their new superintendent, Oscar Villalpando, who has big plans for this growing school system. The rumored fruit basket turnover comes to pass with devastating effect on morale and student achievement. Many teachers are transferred, some are bullied into submission, and older teachers are forced into early retirement. Administrators and teachers of Hispanic descent are hired and promoted at astonishing rates, effectively splitting the community along ethnic lines. When the superintendent shows up dead in Nicole's classroom, the town of Soledad Springs is ripped apart. Although suspects abound, most of the evidence points to Nicole.

She sets about clearing her name. Along the way, she discovers Oscar's secret life of sexual experimentation and promiscuity as well as his twisted scheme to militantly diversify the school district while expanding his power base and personal wealth.