When the summer of 1964 begins, Cooper (who is white) and Jubal (who is black), form a secret society, The Scorpions, and debate whether to invite another boy, Squirrel, to join. When freedom workers come to town to register blacks to vote, the quiet pace of the summer changes dramatically. Cooper must decide how to react when his father makes him attend KKK meetings. Cooper is the only white member of the Oak Grove Baptist Church. His attendance at the KKK klaverns makes him unwelcome in the black community, as does word that he was spotted with a group of Klansmen who burned down houses in the black part of town. Cooper’s uncle Chicago helps guide him through these turbulent times. As the summer progresses, the pastor at Oak Grove Baptist Church somehow manages to learn in advance of Klan plans. He says the news comes from the Angel Gabriel. When the warnings suddenly cease, Cooper learns the secret of Gabriel’s identity and must decide what role he will play, and on which side.