Content Warning: Warrior's Don't Cry contains graphic depictions of sexual violence, racial violence, and racial slurs.
The novel begins with a description of Melba's early childhood, where she encounters racism and discrimination, such as not being allowed to ride on a carousel and her family being overcharged by a racist shopkeeper. When Melba is in middle school, the Supreme Court rules against school segregation in the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education. Unaware of the magnitude of her decision, Melba volunteers to integrate Central High, the prestigious, well-funded public high school for white students.
On a family trip to Cincinnati, Melba gets her first taste of racial equality, but her life is turned upside down when she learns she was one of the nine chosen to integrate Central High School. When Melba and the other eight students arrive at Central High School, they are immediately run out by violent mobs and the Arkansas National Guard, under orders from Governor Orval Faubus to "keep the peace" by blocking integration. When Melba weeps over the frightening events, her grandmother tells her she is "a warrior on the battlefield for your lord. God's warriors don't cry."
To protect the students and demonstrate the power of the American federal government, President Eisenhower deploys the 101st regimen, a troop of war veterans, to protect the Little Rock Nine. Over the following months, Melba endures torment from her white peers, disdain from her community, death threats from white supremacists, near-constant news coverage, and court cases attempting to delay integration. Melba's faith is tested as she works through complex feelings of grief, depression, and intense fear. In addition to the work required to maintain her grades amidst constant torment, Melba is socially isolated, as her friends desert her; she celebrates her 16th birthday alone.
Another member of the Little Rock Nine, Minnijean, is suspended for accidentally spilling chili over a group of boys who had harassed her. Minnijean leaves for New York, and attacks on the remaining eight worsen. When a group of tormentors, led by Andy, attempt to murder Melba, Link, a white student with a crush on Melba, lends her his car to escape. Link proves vital to Melba's success at Central High, warning her about violence his segregationist friends plan.
Melba's mother loses her teaching job, and the school board only promises to renew her contract if she withdraws Melba from Central; by going to the press and the community bishops, Lois wins her job back. The year at Central finishes, but Governor Faubus shuts down all Little Rock schools for the following year to halt integration. With the help of the NAACP, Melba moves to California to live with an all-white family, who support her for the rest of her high school education.
