It' s 1966, and George Parker, a reclusive teenager with a bright mind and a vivid imagination, is facing a boring summer in Eden, South Carolina, an oak-shrouded riverside town with magic seeping from the cracks and fissures of its peaceful antebellum fac ade. George has resigned himself to battling boredom with his faithful dog, Buster, a box of comic books, his bike, Lightning, and a fishing rod, but plans change when Gerard Free moves into the decaying old mansion next door. A handsome, flamboyant outsider with bad habits and mysterious secrets, Mr. Free, who claims he can talk to the moon, is on a mission to recover the soul of his dead lover. As summer unfolds, George defies his parents to assist Mr. Free in his quest, embarking on an adventure that includes a crazy flying ghost; the enchanting music of the big bands; odd neighbors who are far more than the eye reveals; and a beautiful girl, who is forbidden in George' s world.