Teenage Kelly McAllister's frustration and disillusionment with her girlfriends, parents and dull home town come to a head when she is assigned to write a contemporary issue paper. She attempts to make a connection with her town's only homeless person, a Viet Nam veteran who no one but Kelly seems to notice. As she struggles to reach this quiet and troubled stranger, Kelly learns about the lasting impact of war on people's lives, including her own father's.

QUESTIONS

Sensitive and idealistic fifteen-year-old Kelly McAllisterfeels at odds with everyone around her. Her best friendhas suddenly turned boy crazy. Her talented mothercreates greeting card designs instead of real art, andher father never talks to her about anything exceptworking hard and getting ahead.

That's why Kelly becomes so involved in the plight of ahomeless Vietnam vet who takes refuge in the libraryeach day. Interviewing him began as a Social Studiesproject, but it takes on new meaning after her offers offood and friendship backfire into a real disaster.What had the war done to destroy this man? And whathad it done to her own father, who had been to thesame war ... and refuses to speak of it?