Navigating life in the early 1980's in Nyack, NY proves to be a challenge for middle school student Jake Taylor and his two best friends. Jake battles a common mental health issue on his road to learning how to stand up to the overpowering personality of Stu Seagram, his best friend and biggest challenge. Fortunately, he has clear-thinking Jerry Stevens to give him support.

The boys find themselves in a summer long adventure to fix an intractable problem that leads them through the ball fields, pizza shops, bookstores, and middle school of the small New York suburb on their way to responsibility and resourcefulness. Jake, a class officer, is given the responsibility by student government sponsor, Miss Elaine Davis, to protect a beautiful gift for his school. But when the boy's immaturity leads to the destruction of that gift, the boys are forced to figure out a way to earn money and secure a replacement.

Jake learns how to navigate a variety of relationships despite a battle against the sometimes-debilitating anxiety he is forced to combat. Throughout the adventure, Jake and his friends learn teamwork through setbacks and victories until their summer culminates with a dangerous street chase through Manhattan. Will Jake learn to handle Stu? How will he learn to balance his emotions? Will the boys survive danger and replace the gift?