When the massive metal tank filled with sticky brown molasses that rises up over her crowded North End neighborhood explodes, young Carmen must fight for her life, as a tsunami of molasses rushes through the streets.

Needing to earn money after his father's death during the influenza epidemic of 1918, thirteen-year-old Joshua works as a newspaper boy in Boston, one day finding himself in the vicinity of an explosion that sends tons of molasses coursing through the streets.

Maggie wants every day to be exciting. So she tries to liven things up by telling tall tales to her family and neighbors. One dull day, the huge molasses tank in her neighborhood bursts, and Maggie runs through the streets of Boston to warn everyone about the sticky, gooey mess. Why won't anyone believe her? Can Maggie save the day? Find out in this zany story based on the real molasses flood that happened in Boston long ago.