The Ugly Popcorn Tree is a fictional story entwined with a bit of history that offers a real-life look into the hearts and minds of orphans, especially older orphans who would be considered past the adoptable age. It touches on just a few of the conditions that would have them in an orphanage at 11 and 12 years old. The story takes place in 1954 America, 25 years after the Orphan Train era, but with flashbacks by those who were affected. Join Marty, Mitch, Hannah and Joel as they embark on a mission to win a prize for their younger orphan siblings but find themselves dealing with much more than a contest.