Elizabeth and her younger brother Daniel haven't seen their cousins in Taiwan for a long time and are determined to go there. When their parents tell them they won't be able to go this year, they decide to make a trip of their own. Sneakily taking their father's rowboat, one of their cats, and some key supplies, they journey across the ocean together. Confronting dangerous waves and pirates, they find the value of bravery and teamwork, all the while learning survival skills before they reach their final destination.