In the U.S., Mamere and his sister Abital, now in their twenties, are thrilled to start their new lives. But immigration wrenches the small family apart demanding that Abital be placed with a family in Boston, sending Mamere and his friends Jeremiah and Paul to fend for themselves in Kansas City. There the boys meet Carrie (Academy Award® winner Reese Witherspoon), a sassy and brash employment agent who has reluctantly signed on to help them find jobs.
In spite of the vast and often amusing cultural differences, the three resourceful young men thrive. The adjustment to their new life is not always easy, but Carrie helps them navigate the strange landscape of America. As a fiercely independent single woman, Carrie finds herself drawn deeply into their lives and, slowly transformed by the young men’s strength, kindness and optimism, begins to understand the real gift of family.