Cents

Samantha "Sammy" Baca (Julia Flores, understated and thoughtful) gets into some minor trouble at the opening of CENTS. Selling gum on campus isn't a big crime, but her mom, Angela (Monique Candelaria) is disappointed in her. Though they have only each other to rely on, their relationship is strained. Angela, a nurse practitioner, has been turned down by every medical school she's tried; her heart breaks, but she refuses to give up. Sammy, an utter genius at math (even calculus, not a usual subject for a 12-year-old) has difficulty fitting in. When she watches a group of her middle school's most popular girls running a "penny drive" for charity, Sammy decides to find a place for herself at the cafeteria table. She brings her math skills to the project, showing the girls how successful they can be by establishing a multi-level platform that could raise millions of dollars. It works, short-term. The problem is Sammy's concept is a "pyramid scheme," and the girls soon learn that it would take the participation of everyone on the planet to reach their goal. By that time, other problems have set in. Old hurts have appeared. The charitable effort finds some of the girls succumbing to the temptation of accessible money. And the school's mean girl has become very threatened by Sammy. It's everyone for herself as the internet boils over with anger, Sammy is made the butt of rude comments, and jealousy reigns supreme. As events escalate cheaters are called out, liars are caught, and kids, parents, and teachers are faced with making hard decisions that may severely impact their lives.