When Jeffery Alper is in fourth grade, he is struggling with some basic issues related to the fact that he is a cancer survivor. An important part of those issues is that every kid in his class has been to a fundraiser or some event held in Jeffery's honor during the height of his illness. One day, when class is going on as usual, a new boy arrives. He has no hair and a large scar on his head. He walks with a pronounced limp. The teacher instructs the new boy, Thaddeus Isben, to take a seat next to Jeffery. Jeffery notes that's the day he met his best friend.

Four years later, Jeffery and Tad are inseparable. They have faced some of the same challenges over the years and Tad is all but confined to a wheelchair. While Tad deals with more significant physical effects from his years of cancer treatments, Jeffery faces academic challenges. Both boys use laptops because the small motor skills - especially their handwriting - is among their physical challenges. Jeffery also has trouble understanding anything related to numbers. Jeffery has always depended greatly on the advice of his older brother, Steven, but Steven has dropped out of school and moved to Africa where he is studying native drummers.

Jeffery meets Lindsey on the first day of school and is immediately enamored. She returns his affection and they are soon a couple. Then the school announces every eighth grader will be required to pass a standardized test or they won't be allowed to move to ninth grade. Tad begins tutoring Jeffery and his mother sets out to eliminate Jeffery from the requirement, knowing he's making passing grades in math class but will have more trouble with the standardized test. As the date for the standardized testing nears, Lindsay refuses to see Jeffery outside school, citing his need to focus on studying.

The first day of testing is something of a trial run and before the test begins, Tad stands and walks out, followed by every other student. There is media coverage, orchestrated by Tad and Lindsey, and there are soon questions about the standardized testing and about this state's practices in particular.

Meanwhile, Jeffery is preparing to ride in a bike-a-thon to raise money for cancer research, this time in Tad's name. On the day of the race, Tad is back in the hospital dealing with a new cancer and Jeffery is devastated over his friend's relapse. When Jeffery finishes the race, he learns that Tad has died. Jeffery and Lindsey resume their friendship and Jeffery often visits Tad's grave where he can hear his friend's voice on an array of subjects.