Twelve-year-old Trevor Firestone is busy playing a World War II video game when his father interrupts. Daniel Firestone, a history teacher, disapproves of his son’s fondness for war games. However, Daniel’s grandfather, Jacob, who served during World War II, has encouraged this interest. Jacob is known as G.G. to his grandson and great-grandson and will be arriving shortly to have dinner with Trevor and Daniel.

As the family dines together, Jacob announces that he received a letter from Sainte-Régine, France. This is a village that Jacob and his fellow soldiers liberated at the end of the war. The town council has invited Jacob to attend the 75th anniversary of the event. At age 93, Jacob is the only surviving member of his unit and will be treated as the town’s guest of honor. Trevor is delighted since Jacob intends to bring Trevor and Daniel with him on the trip.

The story now shifts to the outskirts of Sainte-Régine in September 1944, shortly before the town is freed from the Germans. Jacob waits with his company to receive marching orders. Because he was only 17 when he enlisted, everyone refers to him as “High School.” The company receives the order to move but makes slow progress—artillery fire is pounding the only road into town.