The story begins with the capping of Jack, one of Will Parker's friends. Will's community looks to be living in the 1800s as there are no machines or electrical devices, although Tripods are commonplace. In preparing for the capping of Jack, Will and Henry deliver food to vagrants which are people whose capping didn't go well. Living among them is Ozymandias who reveals to Will the secret of the White Mountains where men live free. Jack is capped, and returns to the village as a controlled mind. Will and Henry start their voyage to the White Mountains.

Two cousins, Will and Henry Parker, resist the capping process. Under the guidance of a man named Ozymandias, they flee their homes in search of other free humans who are hiding in the White Mountains.

Will and Henry cross over to France, but they are captured upon their arrival and held for the Tripods to complete their capping.

After escaping from prison with a new friend named Beanpole, Will and Henry travel to Paris, which is a ruined city inhabited by dangerous people.

Will becomes ill, and the three companions go into hiding at the Chateau Ricordeau. Will ends up in a romantic triangle with the daughter of a count named Eloise and the Duc de Sarlat.

Will and Eloise´s relationship blossoms into love. This becomes a problem, as he must choose between her and continuing on to the White Mountains.

Will stays behind as Henry and Beanpole leave to continue the quest. Will discovered that Eloise has been capped.

Eloise is taken away to serve the Tripods will in a tournament. Will gives up on her and leaves to catch up with Henry and Beanpole, but is captured again by Tripods. The Tripods set him free to find his friends, but why?

The Tripods strategy is revealed when a homing bug is found in Will. The device is removed, but it´s a bloody accomplishment and he is left very weak. Now they are trapped in a tunnel.

Winter is coming, and Will wants to find the White Mountains soon, but Henry and Beanpole want to stay at with the Vichot family. However, Jeannie Vichot´s fiance is a black guard, and he´s checking the boys out.

Having left the Vichot family, the trio struggles to reach the White Mountains. They try to steal some food, but end up being chased into a forest by black guards.

The boys are caught and put on trial for stealing bread, and Daniel again faces the possibility of capping. Again they escape, but get lost and end up in Tripod country.

A Tripod is destroyed. Racing towards the White Mountains, the black guards capture the boys and an interrogation begins.