Fourteen-year-old Tommy is a troublemaker, but he's basically got a good heart, in spite of the awful circumstances of his home life. When his mother abandons him, he is sent to foster care, where he must learn to fend for himself. Then he meets Daquan, and the two young men form an instant bond based on their shared hardships. Together they try to navigate life without a parent's guidance and avoid the darker elements of the dirty streets of Boston.

When Tommy's mother re-enters his life, he sees a way back to the stable family life he desires. Determined, he sets out to do whatever it takes to make a home with his mother. With the help of Daquan, will Tommy be able to stay out of trouble long enough to make it home?