"Spud" is a prescient three-year old, wise beyond his years. His mother, Angela, was left alone following the sudden death of Spud's biological father, Scott. Though Angela had the love and support of both her parents and Scott's, she elected to strike out on her own and leave the family farm - and her longtime friends - behind. Settling in Walcote, about 2 hours away from the farm, Angela's new life is fraught with the challenges of small village life in England; their lives change in a series of events, some of which take a macabre turn.
The young "Spud" has awareness of a life "before," with his "other mummy," Alma, when they were sent to "Outfits." (Auschwitz). Spud also confides in his grandfather that he knew his own biological father "in heaven, before I was born again." Grandad believes Spud's insights, while Angela is taken quite aback by what she at first thinks to be Spud's overly vivid imagination. It isn't until she meets up with her old friend, Luke, back in her hometown, Dereham, at Christmastime that she is convinced her son is not simply imagining things. Reacquainting her friendship with Luke, an accomplished violinist, brings the truth of Spud's story out in the open.
