It's autumn, 1971 in flint, michigan. alexander is a student at a small, parochial high school. the senior is captain of the top-ranked football team and is an excellent student in the classroom. he is also a deeply troubled, young man, struggling with low self-esteem, a growing intellectual and emotional separation from family and friends, sexual frustration, and increasing doubts about his catholic faith and his relationship to god. in the week before the final game that will decide the state championship and a possible athletic scholarship, alexander discovers disturbing truths about the coaches, the school, his friends and himself. feeling increasingly isolated and desperate, alexander finds support and encouragement from an insightful, warm, red-haired, young nun: sister becky.