A young boy, Bobby, age nine, spends part of the summer at his aunt and uncle's resort in the north woods. He encounters many people-old friends, new friends, strange characters-and sets out on many adventures with these individuals as well as with his uncle and aunt. Problems arise as these strange individuals enter the story to disrupt his visit. He confronts issues of trust, bullying, and social/emotional conflicts with these characters. He learns at this age that adults have and keep secrets, and sometimes help as a resolution for problem solving can come from unexpected sources. At the end of this visit, he grows to a state that people regard him as "more grown up" and begin to call him Bob.