Beck Ambersley has just moved cross-country with his mother from California to the small town of Heavenly Hill, Florida. As they begin living with "Mawb," Beck's irascible old grandmother, Beck comes to know a group of unforgettable characters - two mysterious girls and their eccentric uncle who live on Gunmetal Creek; a narcissistic high school principal and her equally vile cop husband; a caring teacher who encourages Beck's gift of writing; and many others. All of Beck's adventures in Heavenly Hill - and especially on the storied Gunmetal Creek - will lead him on a journey of growth and discovery, even as he loses what's left of his innocence.