After an endless summer, teenager Lockie Leonard gets ready for another year in Angelus, middle of nowhere. His family and friends are as weird as ever - his dad, the local police sergeant, maintains that the best weapon against crime is a poem. His mum remains frighteningly understanding, while his little brother, frontier scientist Philip, has been fast-tracked to high school a year early, opening the door to a whole new world of humiliation. Then there's Vicki Streeton, the girl who owns a lifetime membership to Lockie's heart. It's fair to say Lockie's not entirely sure what the future has in store. Only one thing is certain - Angelus still has the best surf Lockie Leonard has ever seen. So why would he want to be anywhere else? Lockie is invited on a car rally with Vicki's family, where it dawns on him that Vicki appears to want their relationship to head in a new direction. Mum and Sarge try to direct Phillip out of his shed, while Egg is uncomfortable with his new-found popularity.