Deming Guo and his mother, Polly Guo, are staying with Leon and Vivian in the Bronx. Leon is having an affair with Polly. Vivian has a child called Michael. Michael and Deming are friends. One evening, Polly informs Deming that they will be leaving for Florida. Deming is not amused because he knows that he will no longer interact with Michael. All of a sudden, Polly changes her mind and informs Deming that they are not moving to Florida. Polly leaves for work but never returns. After some months, Vivian gives Deming up for adoption. Deming is adopted by Peter and Kay. The couple changes Deming’s name to Daniel Wilkinson.
Daniel is addicted to gambling. As a result, he borrows money from Angel Hennings. Angel is also an adopted child whose adoptive parents are Jim and Elaine. Daniel befriends Angel. The two even sneak out one evening to go to an apartment in the Bronx, where Daniel used to live with her mother. However, they find unfamiliar people in the apartment. Daniel fails to pay Angel, and their friendship deteriorates. Soon after, Daniel is suspended from school and moves to New York City. Jim holds a party, and the Wilkinsons are invited. Peter and Kay request Daniel to fill out an application letter to get enrolled in Carlough College. He reluctantly agrees to present the statement of purpose during Jim’s party.
Michael contacts Daniel informing him that he knows the whereabouts of his mother. After getting her mother’s phone number, he vents his frustration to her. However, Polly narrates how she ended up disappearing. Daniel travels to China to meet her mother. His mother has become an English teacher in Fuzhou. Daniel stays there for four months before getting back to New York City. Here, he starts mending fences with people, whom he initially offended. He makes peace with his adoptive parents and also starts paying Angel her money.
