An American crow narrates the story, The "BE-BOP-A-LULA" Kid. Rueben is an American crow, American as rock 'n' roll, the 4th of July, and friendship, tried and true. In the small town of Cape Charles, Virginia in the summer of 1956, thirteen-year old Skeeter hears his piped piper, Gene Vincent, in a new music form called rock 'n' roll. He is determined to see his idol in person at the end of the summer. Jill, a tomboy, spitter, and cusser moves to town with her father and brothers. Through desperation and a lack of other kids in town, the two become friends. Best friends actually, they seal their friendship by becoming blood brothers. Together they battle blood poisoning, encounter gypsies, celebrate the 4th of July with a fortune teller, escape drowning, and bear witness to the greatest rock 'n' roll concert of all time. This is a story of anticipation. This is a story of blood brothers and what will become of their friendship after the best night of their lives.