Ayanna Phelps loves being one of The 9: a group of smart kids from the South Side of Chicago who meet in 9th grade on the #9 Ashland bus. The daily commute to the prestigious Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, pushes The 9 to rely on one another to escape their troubles in the hallways, on the street, and at home. During senior year, however, Ayanna is faced with a series of challenges which force her to realize that staying connected with The 9 on the #9 will be more difficult than she expected.