Potsie is the new kid in school. He comes from a very fancy school back East. He soon learns that the rules in a Nebraska middle school are far different and he must make changes in order to blend in. A history project puts him squarely in the middle of that adjustment when he teams up with athlete Steve Harlan and his best friend, handicapped Peter Henderson. Potsie and Steve explore an old fort where they meet a Native American ghost who needs their help. With the assistance of Steve's eccentric grandmother and Peter's marvelous computer talents, they all tackle a mystery that has existed for over one hundred and seventy years. Along the way, they also learn a little bit about loving and laughing.