In 1958, Lee Thompson, his parents, and his older brother move to Columbus, Indiana, after the two brothers get into a squabble with local white boys who have been bullying them.
Once settled in their new surroundings, the family must start over, making it difficult for Lee to adjust. His life changes when he befriends Addison, a white girl and a fellow classmate. They quickly become inseparable. The following year, Addison and her family move to Switzerland, making Lee believe they will never see each other again.
Fast forward four years. Lee is attending his first year of high school, where he meets Sam, another white girl, but with a wild character. The following year, he befriends another white girl, Julie, who becomes special to him. By the end of the first semester of their sophomore year, Lee is afraid of anyone finding out about his relationship to Julie, especially his highly conventional father, who would not approve.
Lee is in for a shock when Addison and her family move back to town and the two reunite. But Lee's friendship with Julie makes Addison jealous and possessive. Fortunately, Julie's warm and tenderhearted nature wins Addison over.
Lee's circle of close friends becomes complete in his junior year, when he befriends Taylor, a white boy in his gym class. But Lee is still struggling with his growing affection for Julie and his discomfort keeping secrets from his father.
Teen angst plays out in the racially charged days of the 1960s in Solidarity: The Beginnings.
