New home, new school and no dad. These are tough on 15 year-old James. When the family gets a shelter dog, the family meetings are all about containing Rascal. The house is adorned with bungee cords, electric fence and doggy door, but nothing can contain Rascal, a freedom loving escape artist. James copes in his own way with his dad's loss by journaling, writing letters to his dad and drawing cartoons of Rascal. The family pulls together and humor reigns once more as new friends flock to James after meeting Rascal Ultimately, Rascal is put to the test: to find James a girlfriend.