In the remote, unforgiving landscape of central Florida, Ezra 'Penny' Baxter, his wife Ora and their son Jody carve out a precarious existence. Only ever a failed crop away from disaster, life in the Big Scrub is one of lurking danger, wild beauty and the thrill of the hunt. Jody's world is transformed when he rescues a starving fawn, who becomes his constant companion. But their bond is threatened when the yearling endangers the family's survival - and Jody is forced to make a terrible choice that will change him forever.