Nicholas is headstrong, wayward teen, flailing through school with no plans for a life. His now-departed father called him 'Hopeless', and the nickname stuck. How can you make it through anything wearing a tag like that?

It turns out, having a fearless older brother, Garrett, can help...until Garrett makes an unexpected friend and sort of disappears from the family.

Nicholas finds a surprise in that friend of Garrett's, and gets an unexpected assignment from a teacher that may yet save his high-school career. But add in near-death experiences, cross-country journeys and reunions that are far from joyful, and why would anyone hope to be hopeful?