Colton John Rivers and Caulder Jones ("Gig") live in a California Coastal community that has a premier beach amusement park. As they begin their junior high years, they dream of forming a heavy metal band, but there is not a readily available spot to practice their music. They eventually come up with the idea of playing in an old shed owned by Mrs. Bregazzi, who lives down the street. Gig's overbearing sister (Dahlia) gets involved, which greatly complicates life for everyone involved, but especially Colton. As they begin their enterprise, they encounter a mysterious boy named "Crazy Charlie," who appears out of nowhere (and seems to leave the same way). Further challenging their plans are some Rumble Shark members (a Hollister Motorcycle Club) from the Riley family, who brutally harass Quinten and another mysterious individual- an elderly African-American woman who lives near the old graveyard. Eventually, the three main characters (Colton, Gig and Dahlia) are pulled into a criminal investigation that involves Charlie, the old woman, and some of the Hollister gang members. The story culminates when Raymond (Colton's stepdad) decides to let the boys practice down at the Santa Del Mar Beach and Boardwalk where he works. A number of terrible secrets develop as the story unfolds; and eventually, a nightmare sets upon Colton, as he is forced to intervene into a terrible ordeal on top of the Flying Deutchman (the Boardwalk's rollercoaster).It is a Young Adult Novel that stirs common themes of adolescent wishes... too soon pushed aside amidst the rapidly descending cares of the adult world.