In the blistering summer of 1916, Ed Mitchell is melting in the heat wave boiling New York City. All the city pools are closed because of the polio epidemic, so Ed can't wait to flee to the Jersey Shore and cool off in the ocean. But during his first dip, a great white shark attacks a swimmer and sends the coastline into a panic. Ed is sent away from the shore to visit his aunt in Matawan, New Jersey, where he can stay safe and cool. In Matawan, Ed meets Mike Anders-a local boy who knows all the best spots in the nearby creek. Mike vows to teach Ed to swim, and Ed promises to help Mike read better. Little do they know, the new friends are about to have the summer of their lives.