Mary of Magdala is part of an Essene family by the Sea of Galilee. She shepherds a flock of sheep and assists Dora, the wise woman. She plays games with boys, unlike other girls who cheer them on. This puts her in contact with her best friend's cousin, Jesus of Nazareth, who visits Magdala to help his uncle fish. But Raamah, the son of the local priest, and his malicious cohorts make her life miserable with their constant harassment. Coming of age, she and her Essene friends start a girls' club where they gather to weave, dance, cook, prepare herbs, and tell Jewish stories as a front for teaching girls to read and write - something frowned on by the elders. She struggles to balance her beliefs with her desire to make a difference in a society where she must hide her true self. Will she forsake the Essene Brotherhood in favor of traditional Judaism in order to further her goals?