Stuart “Stu” Ballentyne, and his mom have just moved to Minot, North Dakota, where his mom, an Air Force colonel, has assumed command of the base. With his mom busy with her new responsibilities, and his dad and older brother temporarily out of the picture, fifteen-year-old Stu is left pretty much to his own devices. Stu is having difficulty meeting people his own age, and he is very unenthused when his eight-year-old neighbor, Billy, decides to follow him around all the time. Despite his efforts to discourage Billy, Stu gradually gets to know the boy. When Stu learns that Billy’s home life is seriously troubled, will Stu take action to help him, before it’s too late? This book takes an unflinching look at the problems faced by families of those serving in the military.