It is 1953 and life for Kirale Nottingham is dull, boring, and completely lacking in excitement. You can't get a much smaller, quaint, seaside town than Upper-Chern, South Carolina. In this town, Kirale lives on an old tree-lined avenue with ancient Victorian mansions, which only feeds her apathy for life. No one moves in or out and summer renters are a rare treat. The only kids Kirale's age are an obnoxious group that visit every summer. The oldest, George, is Kirale's personal irritant. Then, the elusive Slater family moves in. At first it appears they are the friends Kirale dreamed about, but everything is not as it seems. With them come mystery, trouble, and adventure and Kirale finds herself right in the middle of it! All the while, Kirale is growing from awkward tomboy to young lady and George is leaving his old life as a spoiled rich boy to become an ally and friend.