As the books starts out, it follows the early years of his mom growing up in Ireland and his dad betrothed to another at birth, tracking how their lives and lives of others come together and intertwine in a maze of good times and bad. In a mix of war heroes, lost dreams, lost loves, football stars, roller coaster relationships, and more.

From the first time Keith hears the tales of Daniel Boone and Davy Crocket, he dreams of the wild calling him, of exploring the wilderness with Daniel Boone and living off the land like the early pioneers.

However, suddenly, he finds himself in an environment that is outside his control due to unforeseen circumstances. Like a puzzle, chance and random events build upon one another and, suddenly, he is lost and alone in the Canadian Wilderness he once romanticized from story books and television. All too soon, his child-like dreams become terrifying as the harsh realities of the wilderness engulf him.

Starving and nearly frozen, he finds refuge in a cave. His only hope may be things he learned growing up that were out of his character, the very things others teased and ridiculed him about.