John “Crash” Coogan has a lot of positive attributes. He’s a successful football player, gets all As in middle school and seems to ooze self-confidence. But he’s a bit of a bully. When he meets the new kid, Mike Deluca, they immediately bond over their collective accomplishments and their “better than others” attitude. Crash is the star of his own story, but unfortunately, his parents seem too busy to notice.

On the periphery of Crash’s world, his environmentalist sister and his unconventional neighbor, Penn Webb, are protesting development of green space. Penn views everything at face value, treasuring his pet turtle, Thomas, and the logic of second-hand clothes. Though constantly dismissed by Crash and picked on by others, Penn remains undaunted and true to his highly unusual nature. The new girl, Jane, takes a liking to Penn’s honesty and defends him even when he doesn’t realize he’s being teased. Penn is determined to win the seventh-grade spot on the Penn Relays team as a way to honor his great grandfather. True to his competitive nature, Crash plans to win that spot to prove he can’t be beat and get his father’s attention.

Crash starts to rethink his attitude after Jane rebuffs him, his coach notes his unsportsmanlike conduct and his grandfather, Scooter, is hospitalized. By the time the Penn Relays trial takes place, Crash is confused about his priorities and how he has treated Penn.