Everyone agreed that thirteen-year-old Bessie Hightower was strong willed. Some simply called her pigheaded. But no matter what people said, Bessie knew what she wanted: To spend some time in France. A country that had produced a woman like Joan of Arc had Bessie's admiration.

France was much more exciting that Texas. When she arrived, the police came to the boarding house she was staying in and checked everyone's passports. It was just like something out of a spy movie. Then she learned that someone wanted her hosts evicted and that the police meant business. So she decided to do some detective work. And Bessie, not one to surrender easily, lived up to her reputation.