Anna Casey's friend has just returned from Christmas vacation in the Keys bearing a small present for her from Mica, the precocious eleven-year-old girl he got to know during his time at his uncle's marina. This gift sets in motion a lively correspondence between the two girls; the resulting long-distance friendship gives readers new insight into Anna's growing relationship with her new foster mother and fills us in on Mica's difficulties dealing with her dad's drinking problem and adjusting to public school after years of home-schooling. These girls have a lot in common, but their personalities are quite different. What can Mica and Anna learn from each other? Can they truly be friends?