Tree longs to escape the orphanage and find a real home for himself and his younger brother. But when his chance finally comes, "There's just room for one," says Delton Gunderson, who is looking for a boy to help work his North Dakota farm. If the Gundersons like Tree's work, they might adopt him. If they don't, back he goes. "I promise," Tree tells his brother, Acorn, "if I don't come back, I'll send for you."

But no matter what he does, Tree just can't seem to please the harsh farmer. How will he ever be able to bring Acorn to the farm? Only Gunderson's own brother, Jake, and his kind ways give Tree hope that this can become home -- until Acorn suddenly appears, and, with his wild actions, threatens everything.