The Exchange Student

Hilary never pictured herself as a world traveler; she felt lucky to escape daily gunfire in the tough South Tacoma neighborhood of Hilltop where her dad aided the poor and hungry. Following a tough move into a Washington suburb, she receives the unexpected opportunity to live abroad. A simple decision catapults Hilary into a "Rotarian" scandal that has been covered up to this day.

Placed into a host family where no common language is shared beyond rudimentary hand gestures and facial expressions, Hilary does her best to navigate the culture shock and find her place. Things seem to be going Hilary's way when she discovers the affection of a gorgeous Belgian boy whom she'd been actively coveting since the beginning of school. Then, in one night, everything changes and Hilary is forced into the night with nothing but the clothes on her back.

What follows is the emotional journey of a young girl forced to cope without parents or home in a place where people aren't always what they seem. Forced out of school by her host family's sister-in-law, who wants to see Hilary disgraced and the family protected, Hilary must decide if she will go home or stay among the rumors and outrage.