The story follows a mother named Mama and her two sons, Derek and Freddie, as they travel across the country in their car. Mama raises the boys on her own after leaving their wealthy father. They live a nomadic lifestyle, moving from city to city. When Mama loses her job and home in New York, she decides to move to Los Angeles. Along the way, they stop in a small town called Klinger's Valley where the boys make friends and go to school for a few weeks before continuing their journey.