Jo, a ten-year-old, spends her time by the Shenandoah River with her closest friend Selma, engaging in activities like fishing and collecting scrap metal to get by. After her violent, drug-addicted stepfather passes away, Jo makes the bold decision to dispose of his body, take his car, and embark on a cross-country journey with Selma. Their destination is Los Angeles, where Jo hopes to find her biological father, a famed folk musician.