SUMMER 1957: Twelve-year-old IZZY, long on hope and short on cash, claws golden nuggets from the waters of a secret spring. His co-discoverer COLLUM swears him to secrecy.

Izzy hopes to be a regular kid, not just the class shrimp. Half his brain teems with schemes to fit in with his peers, while the other half struggles to keep his family from falling apart.

MOM and DAD are at odds, Izzy helpless to save their marriage. THE RUSSIANS launch the first artificial satellite, blighting Izzy's hopes of space-age glory. Bullying LYLE dashes Izzy's self-image; breathtaking IRMA ignores his wistful ardor; and GRANDPA, who taught him to be brave, wastes away in a hospital room.

Money could ease these woes-but Izzy has pledged silence about the gold in the hidden spring.

Deep in dilemmas, how can Izzy hold on to hope?

Includes discussion questions and glossary of 1950 terms