Twelve-year-old Jamie Parker is trapped in all sorts of ways. His father is in danger of losing his lobster business and middle school is starting, which means Jamie will now be stuck in his reading classes again. Not only is reading hard for him, but he has to contend with Ray Quinn, a bully who has been terrorizing Jamie for years. But now Ray has another victim. The new kid, Oscar, has a full head of wild, red hair that makes him an instant target for Ray's teasing. But Jamie doesn't know if he should risk Ray's wrath and defend Oscar.

The only thing Jamie is really looking forward to is soccer. Over the summer, he was the starting goalie for the team. But if he doesn't get good grades, he won't be able to play this year. Jamie struggles with reading, and being put into special reading classes doesn't feel like it will help-it only feels like another trap.

As the school year kicks into gear, Jamie must learn how to balance his passion for soccer with his special reading classes and his uneasy relationship with Ray. But with the help of a creative teacher and a new friend, Jamie begins to break loose from his traps and discover a whole new kind of freedom.