Until he was three years old, Artemus Holiday and his twin brother Andrew had shared together the adventure of life. When, eight years ago, a terrible tragedy took Andrew away, the Holiday family seemed forever consumed by a pain that would never heal. Enter eleven-year-old Chess Folsom - con artist, orphan, and bearer of a heart of gold. Through an unexpected turn of events, Chess and Artemus are thrust into each other's unfamiliar worlds, where they discover the deeper meanings of family and love in a season of joy.