Virgil is an eleven-year-old middle school student whose family comes from the Philippines. He is physically small and thin, which makes him an easy target for school bullies. Aside from his physical weaknesses, Virgil is also sensitive, shy, and soft-spoken. This is a particular problem because he contrasts so sharply with his boisterous family, and Virgil tends to judge himself by the standard of their outgoing behavior. The only relative who understands him is Grandmother Lola.

Virgil’s shyness is a particular obstacle when he develops a crush on Valencia yet can’t bring himself to talk to her. Fear rules Virgil’s life, and it isn’t until he ends up at the bottom of a well that he develops the courage to tackle his personal problems directly. When Virgil risks himself to save his pet guinea pig, he begins the first uncertain steps on a hero’s journey that will change his life.   

Valencia is an eleven-year-old who meets Virgil in their school’s resource room because they both have special needs. Valencia is deaf, and she finds that this physical challenge isolates her from other school children. The class bully calls her “deafo” and her former friends abandon her when her communication problems slow down their games.