The story opens on Halloween night as three high school senior girls - Madison, Ashley, and April - sneak onto the property of "The Ghost House" in their town of Springridge to take selfies, a long-running but unsanctioned senior tradition. As they are leaving, the owner, Benjamin "Sonny" Franklin, shoots at them from an upstairs window, paralyzing April from the waist down.
April is rushed to the hospital, where doctors determine the bullet is lodged near her spinal cord. She undergoes months of surgeries and physical therapy to regain some feeling and movement in her legs. Meanwhile, the incident is investigated. It's revealed that Franklin, who has autism, endured years of bullying and harassment from local teens, with his house constantly being vandalized. His attorney fails to bring this up at trial, and Franklin pleads guilty, receiving a 15-year prison sentence.
Marcie Reynolds and Greg Stanton, investigative journalists at the local TV news station, feel there is more to the story. They interview townspeople, Franklin's former coworkers at the library, and school officials, uncovering the long history of bullying Franklin suffered, often while authorities turned a blind eye. April assists with research for their documentary on the broader issues of bullying.
In prison, Franklin struggles to adapt but finds purpose working in the library and gardens. His former mentor and a new attorney work to get him a judicial release hearing, arguing he never received a proper defense. After serving two years, Franklin is granted release. He will work for the library system and be helped by friends to transition to life outside prison.
April works hard in physical therapy and is able to walk across the stage at her high school graduation. She goes on to study social psychology at Ohio State University, hoping to research the causes and impacts of bullying. In a follow-up interview, she shares her journey and changed her perspective.
The story explores themes of bullying, forgiveness, redemption, disability, resilience, and the justice system's failings. It follows April's inspiring recovery alongside Franklin's more complex path from victim to perpetrator to self-discovery.
