Life hasn't exactly been a picnic for Ked Eakins in Norton, Maine. Not only has he watched his friends leave him, one by one, due to their awareness of his physical differences, caused by kyphosis, a spinal abnormality that leaves him almost with a hunched back, but his mother has abandoned the family to move to Portland, Oregon, for a new life. To add insult to injury, Ked discovers that his father's gambling addiction is out of control, and they don't have the money for the current month's rent or last month's. As his father places all his bets on predicting when the ice will break, Ked comes up with his own money-making scheme. For a small investment and much labor, he buys a minibike that needs to be reconstructed, and plans to sell it. But the path to success is thwarted by his nemesis, Landrover Jones, who picks on him because of his back and just because he can. This is a huge problem since he needs to use the tools available in the school maker space. With the support of his teacher, Mr. Feig-a kind man who seems clueless as to how to deal with bullies--he stays after school to work on his project while another classmate, Esme, who seems to hate him for no good reason, does the same. The author provides many details on how Ked puts the engine and bike together, and how close he comes to succeeding. But when things don't work out, he comes up with a foolhardy plan and almost loses his life. Like so many youngsters out there, Ked is skating on thin ice. I loved the ending and the imperfections of all the characters. Even Ked, maybe especially Ked, realizes that his assumptions about his friends just might not be true, after all. Could it be that he's the one that's pushed them away? The author makes it clear just how desperate certain circumstances can make individuals, prompting them to behave in ways they never would have otherwise.