Stevie Stepanek's upbringing in a mill town past its prime has taught him to expect the worst from life, which is exactly what he gets the day his big brother returns from war, his body intact but his mind clearly missing in action. Impelled to continue the good fight, Stevie finds his cause when evidence suggests a trusted family friend is responsible for a heinous crime that no one is willing to acknowledge. Stevie's efforts to break this culture of silence lead to uncomfortable alliances and unexpected places, until he begins to question not only his motives, but whether the dragon he's sworn to slay might very well set fire to all he seeks to save. The story of Stevie and his blue-collar family ¿ their secrets, their shame and their stubborn pride ¿ is a romp through the turbulent summer of 1975, an adult tale told from the perspective of an 11-year-old boy desperate to make a difference.