Robin, a Chinese American girl, has a passion for ballet. She's even practicing for a big performance. But things get thrown off track when Robin accidentally breaks the front window of a tropical fish store. To make up for the damage, Robin volunteers to work for the store's owner Mr. Tsow. She just never imagined how miserable it would be: he's a total grouch who calls Robin "half-person" because she is only half Chinese. Robin and her grandmother try to figure out what could have made Mr. Tsow so bitter, and while doing some research, they come across some eye-opening information about the struggles of his past.