Political scientist Andrew Hacker's white paper on the racial divide in America compares and contrasts black and white life along issues of income and employment, education, politics, and crime. Hacker presents research into elusive aspects such as attitudes toward race, everyday perceptions of each other, and lingering social barriers based on fear, anger, and guilt. His findings are based on interviews and research into the everyday experiences of average Americans from both racial groups.

Everyone at school is talking about Anya, the new fourth grader who appears to be wearing a wig. Keely is even being pressured by a fellow classmate to pull on Anya's hair to determine if it is real. But when Anya's wig accidently falls off in class, everyone learns the truth--Anya is completely bald. When Keely reaches out to the embarrassed Anya, she discovers that Anya is suffering from an immune system disorder known as alopecia areata.