Entrusted with a secret and believing the town's mixed race outcast, Jasper, to be innocent of the murder of a young girl, 14 year-old Charlie Bucktin embarks on a dangerous journey to find the true killer. Set over the scorching summer holidays of 1969, Charlie defeats the local racists, faces the breakup of his parents and falls head over heels in love as he discovers what it means to be truly courageous.