Ten-year-old David's life is not easy, living in dire circumstances with his alcoholic mother in a wreck of a home. His one true friend is Rebecca, the other children tolerate or make fun of him. Following an accident, he is befriended by Hobo, who moves in and out of the village with his belongings in a pram. When David's mother dies over the Christmas period, he spends time at Rebecca's home and is then taken into care. He escapes, seeks solace with Hobo and together they escape the village, and in time, David is sent to live with Hobo's brother on the South Coast, where he learns Hobo's story. Here, David's life changes completely, but there are still setbacks and challenges along the way before he returns to the village and his life becomes entwined once again with Rebecca.