Only three weeks into the seventh grade, Samantha Pacepa’s life is turned upside down when her teacher, Miss Valentina—a.k.a. The Greek Goddess—announces that their class is going on a three-day excursion to New York City. Being an immigrant’s kid from Romania has always meant living with lots of rules, including no overnight school trips. ANYWHERE. But when the most sacred of all the Pacepa Cardinal Commandments is broken—The Family Sticks Together, No Matter What—home life totally breaks down, forcing Sam to question where her loyalties lie. Does she join forces with Nick, her older brother, by making a stand and walking out on the family, or does she take her parents’ side? After all, weren’t they suffering too? Suddenly, not being able to go on a trip to New York isn’t all that important anymore….