A school project on local labor conditions spirals into a high-stakes confrontation when three students uncover exploitative practices at a neighborhood factory. Susan, Chris, and Abigail initiate their research with the intent of completing a standard academic assignment, but their findings regarding working conditions at Ratcliffe's Rags force them into an unexpected role as mediators. As the factory workers organize a strike, the students find themselves caught in the crossfire between the laborers seeking fair treatment and the factory owner determined to maintain control. The narrative follows their efforts to navigate these conflicting interests while managing the personal consequences of their involvement in a volatile industrial dispute.

Readers often note the book's grounded approach to social issues, highlighting how it avoids over-dramatizing the conflict while maintaining tension. Discussion frequently centers on the moral complexity faced by the protagonists as they realize their research has tangible, real-world consequences for the workers. Critics point to the effective portrayal of the divide between the students' academic perspective and the harsh realities of the factory floor. The narrative is recognized for its ability to present multiple viewpoints in a labor dispute, encouraging readers to consider the motivations of both the workers and the owner. The pacing is described as steady, reflecting the gradual buildup of the strike rather than relying on sudden, artificial plot twists.