It's basically about this girl's golden retriever, Captain, that helps Gale's (that's the girl) uncle stop hurting himself over Gale's father's (her uncle's brother). Also, everybody in Gale's small town thinks that her father died in a plane crash during the World War II, but only her mother believes he's still alive. Therefore, Gale can't help wondering if she'll ever be able to talk to her father again. Overall, it's a very good book.