It was Randall's sister who first told him about the invisible wall that protected her from the cruelty of her classmates. By the time Randall is in fifth grade, he's had his own wall for years. Inside his wall, he doesn't have to think about his abusive father, gone for several months, or his thin, suffering mother, who never leaves the house -- the house with no running water for laundry or baths. Inside his wall, he can dream about picnics, about riding on his Uncle Luke's motorcycle, and, always, he can lose himself in his drawing.

But one day Randall makes a friend, and slowly, frighteningly, his wall begins to crumble. And miraculously, the gift that comforted Randall within his wall opens up a new world outside it.

Then, two things happen that threaten Ian's fragile security -- his father disappears, leaving Ian to fend for himself with the survival skills he's learned through the years, and Ian discovers that a local museum is mounting an exhibition of kites in the courthouse.

Suddenly, Ian's safe hideaway is filled with people -- and with extraordinary, beautiful kites that spark Ian's imagination and draw him out of his shadow existence. Will the kites be Ian's downfall -- or his salvation?