Even though her Dad calls her ''Bruiser,'' eleven-year-old Joy isn't as strong as she looks. With Dad gone and Mom depressed, it's up to Joy to care for the house and her younger brother Ian. Struggling with old clothes in sizes too small now and Ian's constant hunger, Joy fears the school counselor might call Child Protective Services. When a baby bird falls from its nest, Joy recalls her Dad's warning, ''You don't know your own strength.'' Seeking help, she strikes a deal with the quirky neighbor, ''Ark Lady.'' As Joy, Ian, and her friend restore the garden, they discover the beauty of ''rewilding'' and Joy questions her father's views.