An awkward misfit leaves her Boston society family and embarks on a sea voyage to find another life, but instead finds love with the sea captain whose crew teaches her how to be a lady.

Seventeen-year-old Maile falls in love with Englishman John Harbottle, the navigator for Captain James Cook when they arrive in the Sandwich Islands. The two cultures clash after the death of Captain Cook in 1779, and Maile is forced to make an impossible decision: save John or save her people.

In early 1940s Los Angeles, Mexican Americans Marisela and Lorena work in canneries all day then jitterbug with sailors all night with their zoot suit wearing younger brother, Ray, as escort until the night racial violence leads to murder. Includes historical note.