Being the smallest boy in third grade makes Ryland Duze an easy target for getting bullied by, Moss, the hometown bully. Writing poetry also makes Ryland an easy target. Filled with frustration dealing with one incident after another, Ryland finally finds his way around it. He keeps a blue bandana folded in his back pocket; the bandana holds the unwritten code of simple virtues his cowboy hero, Rusty Wonder, lives by. When Ryland meets his hero it becomes the first step in finding the courage he needs to stand up to Moss, but his greatest accomplishment happens when he gives away what he thinks is his good luck to another young boy who Ryland thinks needs it more than he does.