Luther Farrell has dreams. Dreams of winning first place in the Science Fair (by besting his rival and love interest, Shayla), of attending Harvard, and of getting out of Flint, Michigan. But if the Sarge has her way, Luther will be shaving and bathing elderly men at the Happy Neighbor Group Homes in Flint forever. Sarge is Luther’s mom. There’s a reason she’s called The Sarge. To make is dreams come true, Luther is going to have to muster up the courage to stand up to Sarge.

Capricorn Anderson has lived a very sheltered life at Garland Farm with his grandmother, Rain. Garland Farms was once a thriving commune in the 1960s but now just Cap and Rain work the farm. Cap is homeschooled and hasn’t had much contact with people. When Rain breaks her hip from a fall off a ladder in the orchard, Cap finds himself living in foster care with the Donnelly family and attending Claverage Middle School. He might as well be living on another planet! With his long blonde hair, tie-dyed clothes and woven sandles and his non-violent, trusting and naive personality, Cap is the perfect specimen for Zach Powers eighth grade prank. But Capricorn Anderson may have a few surprises in store for Zach and the other 1,099 students at C average Middle School.