North America lies in ruins, decimated by a virus that has plagued the nation for centuries. With medical supplies at an all time low, the rich and powerful now reside within the safety of The District, leaving those who live on the outskirts to fend for themselves.
Will is one of those outsiders, working tirelessly to care for his struggling family. But when his little brother falls victim to the same virus that killed his father, he is determined to do whatever it takes to save him.
Unaware of the challenges faced by those beyond The District's walls, Valerie lives a sheltered life. That is, until she learns her father, long presumed dead, might still be alive, the secrets surrounding his disappearance hidden in the facility where he used to work.
Left with no other option, Valerie infiltrates The Lottery, held in the facility where her father went missing; the very same competition Will has entered, offering the one-in-a-million chance he needs to save his brother's life.
But The District has an alarming secret... in The Lottery, there are no winners.