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? Now that Vicki is at boarding school, Lockie feels the pressure to keep in constant contact. With his birthday just around the corner, Lockie argues it's the perfect time for the Leonards to finally get a home computer. Nan arrives in town, primed for a showdown with Marjorie, while Egg rejects the idea of his dad dating his music teacher.