It s a story of interracial friendship during the Civil War between two 15-year-old Union soldiers. Say, who is white and poor, tells how he is rescued by Pinkus (Pink), who carries the wounded Say back to the Georgia home where Pink s black family were slaves. In a kind of idyllic interlude, Pink and his mother nurse Say back to health, and Pink teaches his friend to read but before they can leave, marauders kill Pink s mother and drag the boys to Andersonville prison. Pink is hanged, but Say survives to tell the story and pass it on across generations.