Nimo is a Lakota boy seeking to fulfill his dream of being a writer. He keeps close track of his day to day life on Pine Ridge. He watches his parents wade through unemployment and piles of unpaid bills. He witnesses racism for the first time during a family vacation. His grandmother dies suddenly and he is unsure how to mourn her death. John David, Nimo’s best friend, is a hate crime victim because of his sexuality. As a college student, Nimo is hit by a car and loses partial mobility in his leg and then his father nearly dies from gunshot wounds. At the same time, Nimo experiences positive events such as his father’s high school graduation, moving to a new house, his parents’ unconditional love for each other, John David’s wedding, acceptance to graduate school in New York City, and a chance to be with the girl he has always longed to date.