A brilliant but no less awkward high school senior coming to terms with his mothers recent death and his fathers refusal to take hospice treatment for recurring and terminal cancer strikes a connection with a sweetly natured transfer student and an English teacher who is sympathetic to his plight. However, in a failed attempt to communicate his depressing situation to a friend Norman instead claims he is the one dying. Soon word spreads around the school and while former bullies apologise for past misdeeds and cheerleaders show a newfound interest Norman adds further emotional weight to his tremendous burden