Based on a collection of stories with the focus on young John Humperkink "Dink" Stover, a student at the Lawrenceville Prepatory School, in 1896, whose family, in Eastcester, New York, have just about given up on his education because he is an incorrigible student. He gets into one situation after another and incurs the dislike of his classmates, who think he is cowardly but he changes their opinion when he challenges several of them to a fight. When he returns home for the summer, he meets Miss Dolly Travers and increases his 'hatred of women' because she does not accept his schoolboy pranks. Back at school, in the fall, he is more difficult than ever until his philosophy is changed by a teacher.

A dedicated priest tries to reform a group of homeless boys in turn-of-the-century St. Louis.

Armed robbers invade the home of a crippled boy and his grandfather and the effect the boy and his surroundings have on them is reforming.

Jody convinces his parents to allow him to adopt a young deer, but what will happen if the deer misbehaves?