In a small town in the United States during the 1970s, the life of a sweet and sensitive 11-year-old girl, Vada Sultenfuss, revolves around her complex family relationships and her discoveries about the world around her. Daughter of a deceased mother and a father who runs a funeral home, Vada has grown up with a unique and somewhat grim perspective on life. Her best friend, Thomas J., is a shy and clumsy boy with whom she shares adventures and faces the typical insecurities of childhood.
As summer arrives, Vada begins to experience a blend of emotions that leads her to question her identity and her place in the world. While trying to cope with her growing curiosity about love and friendship, her relationship with Thomas J. is put to the test. Additionally, her father, Harry, seems to be seeking a new romance, which complicates the family dynamics even further.
As the story unfolds, Vada faces painful ups and downs, from anxiety about the changes in her environment to the inevitable face of loss, which leads her to undergo a transformative experience that will change her outlook on life. Among laughter, tears, and moments of pure nostalgia, this film captures the essence of childhood, the value of friendship, and the difficult transition to adolescence, reminding us that growth often comes with hard lessons.