After a 17-year-old shoots his parents dead and then turns the gun on himself, an investigative reporter makes a disturbing discovery. The adopted boy was born to a mother who, as a teen, inexplicably murdered her parents as well. Even more alarming is the discovery that the dead boy has a twin, who may also be genetically predisposed to kill.

A brilliant but socially inept 14-year-old experiences heartbreak for the first time when his two best friends – Cappie, an older-brother figure, and Maggie, the new girl with whom he is in love – fall for each other.