Ten year old Caleb and his brother Bobby Gene and baby sister live with their strict and sensible parents in small town America, a life while though comfortable, Caleb finds stifling. He yearns for anything but ordinary. Into their world comes 16 year old Styx Malone; a larger than life worldly kid who has all sorts of exciting and rule breaking plans up his sleeve. Before Caleb and Billy Gene know it, they are having some extraordinary adventures and getting into all sorts of trouble with their new best friend. By the end of the novel however, it is Styx who learns that Caleb and Bobby Gene can teach him the value of friendship and trust.