When a young white man in high school, becomes involved with a black football star, the relationship leads to disastrous results in a small town in Mississippi. It is the early 1980's and racism and homophobia are very much alive. In Book One of the novel, Byron struggles with revenge, redemption, and the sexuality that always seems to lead to pain. In Book Two, a young black man wonders about the mystery surrounding the uncle he never knew. Lamar's struggles have to do with avoiding the pitfalls that often befall black youth, complicated by the fact that he is a Katrina refugee in Oakland and must deal with his own fluid sexuality. The story is revealed through the two characters, one white, one black, one rich, one poor. Their lives and families become entwined, and ultimately new families are formed. The experiences of the characters reflect the issues surrounding race and sexuality in the last thirty years in the U.S.