On the eve of the Civil War, slavery is a volatile issue in American society. But for Jenny, a slave girl from Tennessee, it is simply a question of survival. As circumstances conspire to bring her to despair, she must flee to the North. Following the "drinking gourd in the sky," she sets out on her quest, about to face the greatest challenge of her life. To Benjamin Walters, helping others to realize the liberty he has known all his life is a passion. Meeting Jenny is an event that will have far greater consequences than either of them could imagine. As they travel the Underground Railroad together, Ben and Jenny forge a bond even greater than the iron bands of slavery.