Sixteen-year-old Rod Harmon finds himself ""flanked, thrown and tied"" the moment he meets lovely young newcomer, Roberta Roland. But it's to be the summer of his discontent when Roberta's attention is focussed on thirty-year-old husband and father Dex Langer, attractive rodeo star. Rod loses all rationale, even when sister Doris attempts to explain the nuances of a ""crush"" on an idolized figure. He enters into an overt, ridiculous rivalry with his former friend who handles the unwanted situation with a mature patience. We see Rod struggling between moments of wisdom overwhelmed by pride and a compulsive vengeance. But when Rod has his chance in the adult world of rodeo competition he discovers that he is neither winner or loser but a fool, and with the realization comes the first step to understanding. This will certainly appeal to boys with the descriptions of ranch life and rodeoing and Mr. Summers is skillfully perceptive when it comes to handling the shakier moments of adolescence.