Meet Luther T. Farrell, a young African-American who lives in Flint, Michigan with his mother, Sarge. Sarge is a hard-nosed woman who has figured out a way to use the system for her own rewards and has built a thriving business as a slumlord. Luther is trying to figure out how to get out of her world, and he sees his path via the science fair. Tremendous humor and perhaps sarcasm pervade the entire story as we watch Luther with the help of some fabulous characters find his way out from his mother's choices and domination.