In the small, rural community of Moonshine Hill, Texas, a quartet of young teenage boys find adventure and life-altering experiences as they gradually grow to manhood one summer and fall in the year of 1956. The rustic environment of the nearby woods and downtown Humble serve as backdrops for adventure and discovery as they build clubhouses, hunt, go to movies, and dream of that "elusive" opposite sex. The eldest (by two months), Jamie Boudin, is the unconsciously acknowledged leader of the group and his maturity and understanding teaches the others such qualities as respect, honesty, friendship, and loyalty as they go about their quests for adventure and fun.