12-year-old girl Willow Chance, who is is highly fascinated by the number 7, plants, and medicine, has just been enrolled in a new school.  Both she and her parents hopes she will have a better school experience there. But something unexpected happens, Willow had been referred to a counselor as her teacher believes she has been cheating on her test. Her counselor, Dell Duke, realizes that she has not been cheating, but she is in fact a genius.

As a result, Willow has been taking counseling lessons with her counselor. One day, she arrives early for her session. She is greeted by two new students, Mai Nguyen and her brother, Quang-ha. Willow and Mai quickly become friends. Willow finds herself learning Vietnamese in order to be able to converse with Mai in her native tongue. 

Wanting to spend more time with Mai, Willow starts riding a taxi to bring her from school and to Dell's office. She befriends the driver, Jairo Hernandez, and her wise words lead Jairo to reevaluate his life choices and he decides to go back to school.

One day before the counseling session, Mai convinces Dell to take herself, Willow, and Quang-Ha to go eat ice-cream.  After they finish eating, Dell takes Willow home.

They arrive at Willow's home, but something tragic happens. They get informed by the police in front of Willows house that Willow's parents sadly passed in a car accident. Willow cries as Mai is there to comfort her. Mai then asks her mom, Pattie, if Willow could spend the night, and she says yes.

The next day, Willow is forced to go to the Jamison Children's center. But, she faints when she sees her parents wreck on the front of the newspaper. She runs away.  Mai then finds Willow, whos temporary custody is now given to the Nguyens.