Starting a new school, Rose resolves to stand up for herself, employ prudence before speaking, and free her self-esteem from the opinions of a boy who does not return her affections.
When Davey Wexler's father is killed in a holdup in Atlantic City, her mother moves Davey and her brother to Los Alamos to get away from the memories--but Davey is a girl frozen in fear and anger, until she meets an older boy called Wolf who can read her tiger eyes.
Julie Pierce is angry at everyone so, when Mr. Miyagi offers to teach her karate, she thinks she will be able to teach everyone a lesson...including the Alpha Elite. Mr. Miyagi tells her she must look for a way not to fight and to respect herself first.