The focus of this book is the intersectionality of homosexuality, immigration, and religion. Our main character, Amir, is a gay, Muslim, high school senior whose family is from Iran. When Amir is blackmailed by school bullies threatening to out him to his parents, Amir makes a desperate decision to run away rather than risk the disapproval of his parents. He then ends up in Rome being interrogated by authorities, seemingly on suspicion of terrorism.