Dear Lemon Lima 2011

Vanessa Lemor, a 13-year-old Yup’ik girl with an incredible imagination, faces heartbreak when her former love, Philip Georgey, unexpectedly ends their relationship. During the summer in Fairbanks, Alaska, she spends her days working at an ice cream shack, haunted by the bittersweet memories of their fleeting romance. As she grapples with this emotional pain, Vanessa resolves to win back Philip’s affection at Nichols Academy, a prestigious preparatory school where the Georgey family is highly regarded.

Having earned the school’s only minority scholarship, Vanessa quickly realizes that her new environment is fraught with obstacles. Upon returning from his summer trip abroad, a transformed Philip, now fluent in French and embraced by his peers, casts Vanessa aside as she finds herself on the outskirts of the social scene, relegated to a quirky group called the FUBARs. Among this eclectic bunch is Hercules, a sweet but socially awkward boy with overbearing parents; Samantha, a self-proclaimed daughter of a rapper; and Nothing (formerly known as Madeline), who comes from a family that operates a funeral home. The silver lining for Vanessa comes when Philip takes on the role of her student advisor, reviving the core values that once connected them—embracing individuality and social justice—though under a unique lifestyle focused on making a difference.

Misreading Philip’s well-intentioned guidance, Vanessa inadvertently distances herself from her peers by presenting an anarchist essay at the school’s opening ceremony. As if that weren’t challenging enough, she is chosen as the sole freshman captain for the notorious Snowstorm Survivor competition—an event inspired by the Native games seen in the World Eskimo Indian Olympics. Believing that victory in this championship will win Philip’s heart back, she gathers an unexpected team, nicknamed Team FUBAR, comprised of her weight room supporters. United by Vanessa’s fervent desire for love and acceptance, they prepare for a contest that ultimately reinforces the archaic class structure prevalent at Nichols Academy.

Disaster strikes when a cherished teammate falls ill, compelling Vanessa to delve deep into the true essence of love and her Native heritage, all in a bid to rediscover the spirit of the World Eskimo Indian Olympics.