Synopsis: Vain Is My Country

Perpetua Camacho is a 15 year old Chamorro girl, smart, curious and devoted to her family. It's 1875 and she's making the best of her recent move to remote, rural Saipan because her father was appointed the new Alcalde. She fervently hopes for the opportunity to open a class for girls, although there is resistance to schooling by the local Carolinian islanders, a lack of resources, and favoritism for the boys' school by the Spanish Governor in Guam.

Suddenly, more than 400 peninsular Spaniards--political and criminal exiles--arrive in the small community of Saipan, upsetting the safety and comfort of life and making education seem an ill-afforded luxury. When one of the deportees goes missing while boar hunting with Perpetua's Chamorro cousin, and questions of murder arise, her father's position is on the line. Perpetua finds that she knows things no one else will talk about. Will she be able to solve the mystery and save her family's reputation and position? Or will she be stopped by a deadly force that is a bigger threat than she ever imagined?