Tommy Livan Hulette never asked to be born, but it seems like everyone wants to make him pay for it even so. His life is normal enough at first. He's content to live with his mother, and father, and his beloved sister Greta. He has dreams of playing baseball, so he's content to have his stickball where he plays with good friends. He is determined to one day play professional baseball so he could one day move his family out of the ghetto neighborhood they all despise. Tommy is hopeful especially when he meets the lovely and exciting Stephanie Mandan. Things really look up then. However his mother sinks into a deep depression which will lead her to end her life. This devastates Tommy and his life is changed forever. On top of this his father decides he cannot afford to stay with them so he sends Tommy and Greta to a cruel relative Tommy never knew about. And this relative is cruel. He hates Tommy and always has. He wants Tommy to die. He wants him to kill himself the same way his mother did. How will Tommy fight this while keeping his sister safe at the same time?