Kofi's safe world is suddenly shattered by white men who have arrived from the coast, stealing his people to sell into slavery. Soon Kofi finds himself being led in chains from his African village to a cold farm in New England.
In nineteenth century New England, Joseph Palmer flouts the law against wearing a beard and is accused by his fellow citizens of being unpatriotic and sinful, stubbornly refusing to shave even when he is sent to jail.