Behind a small neighborhood, there is a big forest. In that forest, there is a tall oak tree. On a branch of that tree lives Nathaniel Oakwood and his family. Nutty is bored with life-going to school, learning how to count nuts, doing everything his parents say, every single day. He longs for change, but what can a young grey squirrel do? His whole world changes when he meets the mysterious conniver Sedgewick Pine, who compels him to the "free life," and a menacing human who sees squirrels as a quick way to get stinking rich. But this so called free life will cost Nutty his freedom-and maybe even his life.