Fifteen-year-old Lib Rinke is perfectly comfortable at home with his fascinating books and television game shows. He has no interest in tagging along with his father and brother on their outdoor expeditions. But this year he couldn't get out of it. Lib finds himself heading toward Shadow Creek and the Tumbledown Ranch with his father, brother, and the Burr twins, Foy and Coy. He's got Traveling with Termite and Spud stashed to read for passing the time, but the great outdoors ends up being quite the adventure. From simple father-and-son bonding to an encounter with Bigfoot at Mermaid Falls, Lib is constantly finding new surprises. And the biggest one of all is that he has the power to speak up for himself. By the time the group finally leaves their friends at the Tumbledown Ranch, Lib is ready to branch out.

He makes strides he never thought possible, all with his father at his side. In this thought-provoking tale of a young man finding himself, a portrait of familial love and self-confidence unfolds. Initially held back by frustrating speech impediments, Lib is on the way to a big transformation.