It's the year 2040 on Planet Sancaterra, and 13-year old Sydney Allen (a.k.a. Syd) doesn't know what her Path is. When kids finish their eighth year of school (the year Syd is in right now), they must decide which Path they will train for - or someone will choose for them. Her closest friends have all chosen a Path, but none of the Paths Syd knows about appeals to her. Syd has a choice: choose a Path she knows little about or settle for a Path that keeps her close to everyone and everything that is familiar.