It is the summer of 1959 in a small town in the Midwest. President Eisenhower is nearing the end of his second term, the Soviet Union is winning the space race and the Cleveland Indians are trying to recapture some of their lost glory. But ten-year-old Charlie Applegate is not concerned with those things. He only wants to be normal. Unfortunately, there are two things standing in his way: He has a paralyzing fear of heights and he has an annoying habit of seeing things that haven’t happened yet – especially in his dreams.
Feeling isolated and alone, Charlie tries to fit in with the other kids in the neighborhood, but is failing miserably. Everyone except Charlie is obsessed with baseball, a game that Charlie finds boring and hard to play. The more he tries, the more he feels like a failure.
Charlie’s life changes when he meets Mr. Turner, the elderly recluse who lives next door.
Mr. Turner was once a star player for the Cleveland Indians when the team was in its infancy, but now he is alone and apparently forgotten. The unlikely pair forge a friendship and help each other with their respective problems.
But in his greatest challenge, Charlie must overcome his fear of heights to save is brother’s life.
Follow Charlie in this heartwarming tale of friendship, loyalty and the importance of facing your fears.
