Mac lives in a town with a lot of rules, most of whom seem to come from a local busybody who is also his sixth grade teacher. When assigned the book The Devil's Arithmetic , he notices that some words have been blacked out. He and his friends get upset, but the teacher and the principal don't take them very seriously, since they can still read the book, just not a few words. However, Mac's mom and granddad have taught him to stand up for what he wants, and they help him fight. Also in the background of this story is Mac's unreliable father, who is causing a lot of stress and trauma for Mac. A powerful look at masculinity and what's happening in schools today.