Alex McEwan, a young man growing up in New England at the beginning of World War II, desperately wants to join his friends and enlist in a branch of the service, any branch. But he can't. Alex is deaf, and his dream of being a part of something bigger than himself goes down in flames. Instead, with his family's encouragement and support, he attends the only deaf college in the world, Gallaudet. At Gallaudet, Alex discovers not only his mathematical gifts, but also a deeper understanding of himself. Securing a prestigious job in Boston, he continues his search for love, happiness, and acceptance in a world that doesn't always want him. Just when he thinks he's figured it out, Alex learns how far he still has to go.