Cara DeFido, the ugliest girl in Flock's Rest, is an outcast because of her looks. When it becomes too much for her to bear, she runs away to a place populated by the most gorgeous people Cara has ever seen. They offer her an elixir, and she returns home stunningly beautiful. But there's a catch--her beauty is drawn from those around her. Over time her family, friends, and townspeople become uglier and uglier as she grows fairer. By the end of this thriller with a social commentary twist, Cara finds herself an outcast again.