Things aren't going well for 9 year-old Scott Singleton. Freshly arrived with his family in a sleepy Missouri town, Scott finds suspicious glances instead of the open arms he had hoped for. Making matters worse, his parents are blissfully oblivious to their son's angst, his teacher runs her classroom like a drill sergeant, and gym class is a cruel exercise in survival of the fittest. His fate seems to be sealed. Yet as the years pass, friendships form and neighbors slowly warm to the newcomers in their midst. And much to his surprise, Scott realizes that his adopted hometown has become more a part of his identity than he ever dreamed possible.