Frequently picked on for his small stature, eleven-year-old Hugo O'Connell is decidedly worried about moving to a new home in Colorado and starting at a new school, where he imagines he'll have to go through the same painful process of making friends. But Hugo has learned to avoid bullies and surprisingly his knowledge of garbology--the study of people's trash--garners him friends and newfound popularity. While the attention helps distract him from increasing fights between his parents, he lets it get to his head and makes a few key mistakes that must be rectified.