Mike, a middle-school-aged boy in the 1950s from Willow City, North Dakota, drags his friends on a search for blue rabbits that are tormenting an old Norwegian farmer named Gunder. Learning about the man's early years and the experiences in his youth, Mike and his three friends decide to work together to solve the mysterious sightings of blue rabbits. Mike is offered a reward if he rids the farmer of the legendary creatures that have somehow followed him from his homeland.
An unexpected meeting with the town's new arrival, a Chippewa girl named Omi, drives Mike into action sooner than he expected. When some of Omi's rabbits are missing, several of the boys are suspected of stealing them, including Mike. Harsh encounters with landowners, trap setting, and rabbit stakeouts bring the group together. Mike must impress Omi and find her rabbits, too, but it isn't going to be easy.
As the group works together, they soon discover the connection between the mysterious legend and Gunder. A dramatic conclusion about the blue rabbits in Willow City brings understanding and a new start for Gunder.
