Five boys from Napa, California, are doing their best to make it through middle school. This group of Grape Field Middle School misfits includes Blake "the Snake" Sloan, Jeff "the Nose" McCoy, Billy "the Mackster" Mack, Sy "Slo-Mo" Wilcox, and Wesley "Tex" Strait. Together, they get in and out of trouble, dealing with both school and romance.

Blake develops a crush on Rose, but he doesn't know how to talk to a girl. She's not like his buddies, and it's going to take an awful lot of work to charm her. Meanwhile, the boys get caught up in adventures, including a scary overnighter to Tex's parents' ranch and some dangerous neighborhood shenanigans.

Blake realizes over the course of his relationship with Rose that his friends can both help him and hinder him. Even so, girls may come and go, but true friends are forever. Middle school might not be big enough for Blake and his buds, but the boys aren't big enough for the real world-not yet, but they will be someday