Jim Allen appears to be a normal, everyday twelve-year-old. He's nervous about making the jump into junior high school and hoping he can make the basketball team to impress his overworked and stern father.
But on his first day of school, Jim and his best friend Max already manage to run into problems. Max informs him that his favorite science teacher will be in Russia, instead of the classroom this year. Then on their way to school, the bus blows a tire and Jim must help the old curmudgeon of a bus driver change a tire. The hard labor proves to be a turning point for the young man. Jim has a tough time getting the bolts off the tire, he gets frustrated and that's when it happens. He’s able to move them just by thinking it.
The discovery of his new-found powers leads Jim on a strange adventure that includes finding a mysterious shard of amethyst, a surreal encounter with a wild lion and the harsh realities of trying to survive seventh grade.
