It"s 1943, and the world is at war. As the fighting escalates overseas, a polio epidemic grips children in the U.S. Twelve-year-old Ruth is trying to cope with these issues while going through challenges of her own. The only thing Ruth enjoys that summer is her family"s trips to Jones Beach. There she meets a lifeguard, an older boy named Russ. Russ seems young, friendly, and fit, and he listens to Ruth and makes her feel special. But why is Russ not fighting in the war? Could he be a draft dodger? Then, one day, Ruth discovers Russ"s secret and learns a lasting lesson about courage.