Thirteen-year-old Heck is a pretty normal kid with some artistic talent and a distinctive, hyperactive imagination. Life with his mother has been hand-to-mouth but not catastrophic. When he and his mother are evicted, she carelessly assumes he's staying with his friend. Heck, confident in his own ability to get by and wanting to protect his mother from any criticism, decides not to ask for help. For the next few days he experiences a harsher reality than he anticipated -- he's hungry, has no money, and doesn't have a home. At first he spends his time in a relatively safe public place, the mall. There he does a very stupid thing: he accepts a drug from a girl. Eventually Heck encounters Marion, a homeless man. Heck is aware that Marion is definitely on the other side of sane but can't help himself from getting involved. Heck unwisely participates in Marion's lunatic fantasy, even to the extent of assuring him that he will protect him. Heck sustains himself (and the reader) with his wit, imagination, and optimism as he navigates through many risky encounters, while ultimately realizing he's not a real superhero, but a kid.