Zola is a minnow who lives in the river with the rest of her school under the watchful eye of Miss Pike. Being a brave and resourceful minnow, Zola joins forces with Spox, a gigantic catfish to rescue the school from the BAITMEN who capture most of her classmates. The remaining seven chapters continue the adventures of Zola, Spox, Miss Pike, the corner guards, and even Hubert and Garth, two predator fish. The minnows learn valuable lessons about who they are along the way to their graduation from Miss Pike's class.