Jimmy is a 12 year-old boy who daydreams about being the world's greatest animal trainer. Unfortunately, after the loss of his father, his daydreams take over, and his school and personal life begin to suffer. That is until his mom sends him to live with his grandfather for the summer. Just when he thinks things have gone from bad to worse, he discovers an animal sanctuary next door, and a baby white lion. But when he learns that the sanctuary is about to be bought by an evil corporation that plans to use the animals for testing, he formulates a plan with his new found friends to stop the sale, and expose the company for what they're really doing.

In 1990, a bullied, gay high school student named Cameron joins the Marine Corps with his straight best friend, Ray — a dangerous move when being gay in the military meant jail time or worse. As these two friends plunge into Marine Corps boot camp, where the landmines are both literal and metaphorical, they join a platoon of young men on a harrowing journey of transformation.

Two young men, each estranged by the other's class status, reckon with the violent authoritarian regime that controls their world. Despite the dangerous obstacles that stand between them, the pair are recklessly in love.