The main character in the book is seven-year old, Luke Chandler. Luke lives in the cotton fields with his parents and his grandparents where every year they pick cotton. Every year they hire Mexicans and hill people to help them pick the cotton. This year they hired a group of 10 Mexicans and a family of hill people named Spruill. 
     The Chandlers work hard every year to get some income but always fall short. They don't have a painted house and aren't one of the wealthiest people in town. One day, one of the Spruills, Hank, goes to town and ends up getting in a fight and killing someone. A few days later, he gets into a fight with a Mexican, named Cowboy. Hank is already in deep water, but the Chandlers can't afford to lose him because if they do, all of their cotton might not get picked. The police are out looking for Hank and Cowboy hates Hank, so the Chandlers and the Spruills decide that Hank should leave the farm and head back home. Whether Hank makes it home and whether the Chandlers survive another season of picking cotton, is for you to find out.

Main Characters: 

Book
Luke Chandler
Eli Chandler
Hank Spruill