Piper's dad -a Navy Chief- might be gone again, but Piper's got plenty to keep her busy at home : new neighbors, a spaceship beach house, a trip to New Orleans, and, most important, the upcoming Gypsy Club petshow. Piper is determined to win, but teaching tricks to her dog seems nearly impossible. Bruma is simply unteachable.

In January 1942, twelve-year-old Colton is on his family's fishing boat in the Atlantic with his older brother Danny when the boat is capsized by a Nazi U-boat, and Danny is severely injured; realizing how close the enemy is, Colton takes his brother's enlistment papers and joins the Navy, determined to do his part to defeat Germany--if only he can keep his age a secret and survive life at sea.