A car accident on a Sioux Reservation leaves a young boy and his siblings homeless. They are sent to live on a farm, where his much older stepbrother is recuperating from war injuries. Clarence only agrees to move because of his brothers and sisters for whom he has been the main caregiver would otherwise be split up for placement.

He finds it difficult to adjust. He never did well in school and hates it. He has trouble with cultural changes, new people and situation; but mostly, the stack of rules. His old life; though not the best, was a life he understood. He will give it a chance, but seriously considers running away.