Theresa's younger son Azriel goes back to Butler County to live with his aunt. His condition deteriorates rapidly, and he begins expressing thoughts of suicide. Theresa tries desperately to arrange therapy for him, but the agency appears to be dragging its heels. When it finally does act, the result is anything but what Theresa hoped.

Theresa Fogel moves with her four children to a small town in rural Ohio, hoping for a fresh start. Instead, unsubstantiated allegations of abuse prompt the local child welfare agency to take her children. As Theresa struggles to regain custody, she discovers what critics call the dark secret of child welfare: that your children can be taken for reasons the state may never have to prove, and getting them back is anything but guaranteed.