Ida B. Barrett Wells Tower is a residential building for low-income families. When it first opened, four-year-old Brenda Carver and her mother moved to the tenth floor. On moving day, she met Rosa Rivera, who moved onto the twelfth floor, and Sharif Goldsby, who moved in with his grandmother. Twenty years later, all three are still residents. Brenda is a writer and a single welfare mother of four children ranging from 13 down to 2: Bootsy, Shaniqua, Yusef, and Jumah. Rosa is an aspiring actress working in a stage production for the experience and exposure. Sharif is a gay activist who serves as the community peacemaker and do-gooder. A young child who has recently lost his mother comes up missing and is found dead in the building. Bootsy witnesses Ricky, a former resident, serve street justice against the child murderer. In spite of the dangers and the consequences, Sharif, Brenda, and Rosa band together as family to protect and shield Ricky's promising future. This compelling story has an unusual twist but a happy ending. Lillian Lewis