As the story begins, the Schiller family has just moved to the tip of Long Island to set up a German restaurant.

Peter Schiller, the father, had recently been shot and killed in a hold-up. Most of the action takes place in the restaurant where Henry helps his two older brothers, at school where he is humiliated by the sadistic Mr. Peddle in Health and Human Behavior Class, and at Valerie Kissenwiser's home.