When Eleanor Ashe turns 17 she begins developing unnatural powers. She is afraid to tell her government-working father, as he is a patriot to the law, and does not accept anything that is out of the ordinary. Soon after she discovers her abilities, she is framed for a crime she did not commit. As a punishment, she is banned from the island of Superior, where her and her father live, and sent to live alone on the island of Coqua. Coqua is the opposite of Superior, as it is full of beautiful beaches instead of finely trimmed hedges, and is known for not being strict on rules. Here she must learn to not only live on her own, on a strange unfamiliar island, but also to control her newfound powers. With some unexpected help, Eleanor learns about these powers, and the dangers they trigger.