In 1972 Madison, Pennsylvania, eleven-year-old Vada Sultenfuss is obsessed with death and dying. She lives with her widowed father, Harry Sultenfuss, at “Sultenfuss Parlor,” a large Victorian home that also functions as a mortuary and funeral parlor. Harry, a mortician, is oblivious to his daughter’s quirky behavior. One summer day, makeup artist Shelly DeVoto arrives at the funeral parlor in a sleek mobile home. Although the free-spirited woman is there in response to a job ad, she is shocked to learn that the position entails applying makeup to dead people. However, she accepts the job. While Shelly acclimates to her new role, Vada and her good friend, Thomas James “Thomas J.” Sennett, ride bicycles through town. They stop at Dr. Welty’s medical office, where Vada describes a variety of ailments. The doctor, familiar with the precocious girl’s complaints, tells Vada that she is in perfect health. Vada and Thomas J. continue on their route, stopping to say hello to their fifth-grade teacher, Mr. Bixler, on whom Vada has a crush. In the days that follow, Shelly DeVoto gets to know the eccentric Sultenfuss family, which also includes Harry’s mother, “Gramoo,” and his older brother, Phil. On learning of Vada’s desire to take Mr. Bixler’s summer writing class, Shelly encourages the girl to ask Harry for money to pay for the class. However, when Vada approaches her father, he says no. The next day, Vada becomes locked in the basement and suffers a panic attack. Shelly comforts the anxious girl, and later asks Harry if Vada’s neuroses are serious. Harry tells Shelly not to interfere. Vada and Thomas J., intrigued by Shelly, ask if they can go inside her camper. There, the children drink sodas and discover money in a cookie jar. Later, having paid the course fee, Vada attends Mr. Bixler’s creative writing class. The adult students welcome the girl and listen as she recites a simple poem. Mr. Bixler suggests she try writing about more unique, personal topics. Back at the Sultenfuss home, Shelly hears tuba music and finds Harry entertaining Gramoo in the living room. Harry explains that, although Gramoo came to live with them after Vada’s mother died, the elderly lady has become too absent minded to care for her. Shelly expresses sympathy, and later hints to Harry that they could go to a drive-in movie together. Instead, Harry asks if she would like to attend a bingo game, and the makeup artist agrees. Meanwhile, Vada and Thomas J. become “blood brothers” while fishing at a nearby lake. On another day, they discuss the merits of heaven, and Vada tells Thomas J. about her mother, who died two days after Vada’s birth. On the night of the bingo game, Vada urges Thomas J. to sneak out of his house and accompany her as she spies on Shelly and Harry. Later, back at the Sultenfuss home, Vada waits up for her father and sees him go into Shelly’s camper. There, Shelly and Harry dance and kiss, but Harry leaves before midnight. A few days later, while shopping for groceries for their Fourth of July picnic, Harry and Vada run into Shelly at the supermarket. Harry and Shelly flirt with each other, which annoys Vada. On the day of the holiday picnic, two men arrive at the Sultenfuss residence, upsetting Shelly. However, she politely introduces her ex-husband, Danny, and his brother Ralph. Shelly and Danny argue about who legally owns the motor home, until Harry intervenes, intimidating Danny and securing Shelly’s possession of the camper. That night, while watching fireworks, Vada and her uncle Phil discuss Harry and Shelly’s budding romance. A few weeks later, Thomas J. and Vada play in the woods, where they find a beehive. When the bees begin to swarm, the children run to the lake and jump in. That night, Harry, Shelly, and Vada attend a carnival, where the couple informs Vada their plan to marry. Vada shows her displeasure by repeatedly slamming into Shelly’s bumper car. The next day, Vada tells Thomas J. that she wants to run away to California, but Thomas J., who thinks Shelly is “cool,” convinces her to stay. In the days that follow, Vada experiences the emotional turmoil of becoming a young woman, and she and Thomas J. share their first kiss while sitting under the willow tree at the lake. Later, Thomas J. goes into the woods by himself, looking for Vada’s lost mood ring. He kicks the beehive, and the swarm surrounds the boy, stinging him. The next day, Vada’s father tells her that Thomas J. has died of an allergic reaction to the bee stings. Vada is devastated and refuses to leave her room. During the funeral, she approaches Thomas J.’s casket, but the young girl cannot bear to see her dead friend. Sobbing, Vada runs to Mr. Bixler’s house, where she declares her love for her teacher. Just then, Mr. Bixler’s girlfriend comes out onto the porch. Vada, upset, runs to the willow tree near the lake, climbing high into its branches. Late that night, Vada returns home to a worried Shelly. As the makeup artist brushes the girl’s hair, Vada confesses that she stole money from Shelly’s cookie jar to pay for the writing class. Shelly forgives her and tucks her into bed. When Harry comes to say goodnight, Vada expresses guilt for causing her mother’s death. Harry protests, comforting the girl by sharing memories of his late wife. A few days later, Vada and Harry run into Thomas J.’s mother, who gives Vada the mood ring Thomas J. found. Vada attends her writing class for the last time and reads a poem about Thomas J. to her classmates. Afterward, with a positive outlook on life, Vada and her new friend, Judy, ride their bicycles down the sidewalk.