Albie Greenberg, born in New York at the start of World War II, wants to be accepted as normal. His parents, fearing post-Holocaust that their Jewish identity could become a death sentence, have never once discussed religion in Albie's presence, and practice none.

For Albie's tenth summer in 1950, his parents send him to regimented, athletic Bear Lake Camp hoping their dreamy, bookish son will assimilate into the world of other boys. Away from home for the first time, Albie must navigate the camp culture as unprepared for baseball as he is for scapegoating or a summer polio epidemic.

Will rising conflict at Bear Lake that ends in darkness defeat Albie, or open a path to his future?