When lonely Billy Reed's hostile, alcololic dad shunned him, and his passive mom didn't show him love or offer direction, he felt lost, lonely, and confused and had to find guidance on his own. His search begins when his sailor father returns and uproots the family on a trip across America at war. From then on, until breaking away as a young man, he chronicles their lives and what he learns about love, death, family relationships, and his father. By story's end, through his observations, experiences, and unexpected sources, he finds the secrets for leading a fulfilling life.