The year is 1955, and the Cold War is going strong between America and the USSR. A group of four boys growing up in Sierra Madre, California, near LA are going through their daily lives. This includes bomb drills and tales of communist espionage from their social studies teacher.

Thirteen-year-old Paul is the main protagonist, and he is joined by Oz, Crank, and Arnie. They are thrilled to find out that Hollywood is going to be coming to their small town. They are all big fans of the Saturday horror/sci-fi movie features, and this will be their chance to see a movie made. The movie being filmed will end up being the cult classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and it will form an interesting parallel as the boys are pulled into the red scare that is hitting Hollywood and the rest of America.

While on the set, they meet actress and star-double Laura, with whom they end up becoming friends. With her help, they get an opportunity to see all aspects of the movie and even get a chance at a cameo. But they also meet Darryl, a man who is a co-worker who seems to have interest in becoming more than her friend. This distresses Paul who has a bit of a crush on Laura.

Things become more interesting when they figure out that Darryl is not necessarily there for the movie, but on assignment for the FBI in order to look into the potential communist activities of the Hollywood folks.

Before long, Paul and the gang find themselves being pulled into an investigation that will end up concentrating on an area professor who once worked on the Manhattan Project.

Kidd has always been a master at choosing often overlooked periods of Twentieth Century America and setting interesting tales their. An earlier book, Monkey Town introduced readers to the Scopes Monkey from the perspective of the daughter of a major town player.

It is this type of unique perspective that makes Kidd's story flow nicely. They are dependent upon strong characters that allow young readers to connect with their peers from decades earlier. This also allows readers to get a better understanding of a time or event in history they would normally be less familiar with.

The story ends up with a high stakes chase, forcing the young protagonists to question what is true and what is right.