Leipzig, 1989. Germany is still divided into East and West, but this matters little to twelve-year-old friends Fritzi and Sophie-until Sophie has to flee to the West with her mother. There, she faces prejudice against "those from over there," but mostly battles her homesickness. Fritzi's attempt to at least bring Sophie her dog, Sputnik, fails at the heavily guarded border. Fritzi realizes that only the fight for freedom in her own country can bring them back together.