Jeremy Cabbage stuck at Harpwitch's Home for Mean Dogs, Ugly Cats, and Stray Children, where the dogs are treated better than the kids. And things aren't much better on the outside: the city is ruled by the arrogant and foolish Baron Ignatius von Strompe, who's on a campaign to stamp out anyone who's different. At the top of his list are the outlandish people known as cloons, who look like clowns, say what they want, do as they please, and make everyone laugh the whole way through. Jeremy's only chance is a good adoption--but who would possibly adopt Jeremy, an unloved, unwanted eleven-year-old? The answer sets Jeremy off on an outrageous, comical adventure that brings him face-to-face with the Baron himself.