The arrival of a newborn girl causes the gradual disintegration of the Cairn family; particularly for 9-year-old Joshua, an eccentric boy whose proper upbringing and refined tastes both take a sinister turn.

The fate of the galaxy rests in the hands of bitter rivals. One, James Kirk, is a delinquent, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy. The other, Spock, a Vulcan, was raised in a logic-based society that rejects all emotion. As fiery instinct clashes with calm reason, their unlikely but powerful partnership is the only thing capable of leading their crew through unimaginable danger, boldly going where no one has gone before. The human adventure has begun again.

Mom Nancy, a schoolteacher, is unable to handle the constant barrage of hostility from her three children. Husband Ira is ineffectual in helping his wife with her anxiety. Older son Mikey is barely able to express himself. Middle child Meghan flouts whatever restrictions her parents place on her, and youngest child Spencer, needs to be handcuffed to the car just to participate in family outings.