Vincent is a teen growing up in Barrio Logan. His family is concerned he's been getting into trouble and may be involved with gangs and drugs. So his grandfather calls in a relative from Mexico to help straighten him out: A relative Vincent's never heard of and no one ever talks about, "because he's of the old ways."

Despite his strong resistance to getting "straightened out" and his mother's opposition to anyone teaching him about "the old ways," Vincent and his best friend begin a journey of learning about those old ways, the ancient spiritual side of their Mexican heritage. What they learn about the "secrets of the ancestors" pulls them away from the power of gangs and drugs and into their own personal power. Through it all, they worry what will happen to them when their "friends" find out the boys don't want to be in the gang.