In the heart of vast and wonderful America, a young prodigy of only 12 years old, T.S. Spivet, lives on a ranch in Montana with his eccentric family. From an early age, he has shown an incredible talent for invention and science, which gives a touch of loneliness to his everyday life. Despite his brilliance, T.S. struggles to be understood and heard in a home where the art of observation clashes with the noises of the world.
When he receives unexpected and magnificent news: he has won a prestigious award from the Smithsonian Institution for one of his inventions, T.S. decides to embark on an adventurous journey to Washington D.C. without anyone finding out. With a map in his hands and curiosity as his only companion, he begins an extraordinary train journey. Along the way, he encounters a series of peculiar characters who teach him important lessons about life, loss, and the search for his own identity.
As he leaves behind his life in Montana, the ghosts of his past haunt him, including memories of his brother and his relationship with his mother, which lead him to question what it truly means to be a prodigy. By the end of the journey, T.S. must not only face his destiny but also discover who he really is in a world that has so often made him feel different.