The main characters: Mishka Dodonov - a boy of 12 years old, his family - a mother and two brothers (Fedka 4 years old and Yasha 8 years old), all the other relatives of the boy died of starvation, Seryozha Karpukhin - his friend (11 years old), man Prokhor, Trofim ( a boy who delved into the trash), train driver.

Mishka heard from peasants in the village that Tashkent is cheap bread, but it’s very difficult to get to the city: there are 2 thousand miles and back. And you also need to pay for a ticket and a pass. Bear persuades Seryozha to go with him, only Seryozha is scared. Tashkent seemed to Mishka a fabulous city. Mother did not want to let her son go, but nevertheless agreed. Bear took with him a folding knife, a mug, a piece of grass bread, an old grandmother's skirt, salt, a rope and two bags of bread. The boys approached the cast iron, everyone climb on the roofs of cars. Bear jumped on one, but then the car stopped and he had to get off. He learned from peasants when the train will go to Tashkent. Mishka and Seryozha were lost, but were found in the 3rd class of cars. They had a fight because Seryozha did not wait (agreement to help each other). Seryozha doubted whether to steal bread from Mishka or not, but would fall asleep.

In the morning they gave a train, everyone began to climb on it, pushing around. The boys barely made their way to him (the soldier noticed, but the Bear deceived him: he said that there the man had climbed). Serezha found a nut, Mishka told him to throw it out (envies), the boys played the nut by lot, Mishka won. There is dirt, stench, lice everywhere, everywhere they drive, everyone is driven, a lousy man lies on the road and dies, next to him is a piece of dirty bread. A bear pulled him, a dagger throws pieces of bread to the ground, the boys fight and catch him. Bear is thinking about grain that he will bring from Tashkent and plant at home. He gave 2 crusts from the caught bread to Seryozha, 3 left to himself and considers everything how much Seryozha owes him. Seryozha started diarrhea, he constantly complains and whines, and Mishka already regretted that he took it with him. Mishka met his sister of mercy, she listened to him, said that he had typhus at Sergei and at the next station he would be put in the hospital. Bear is glad that there are still good people on earth. My sister took it and to her in the car, gave bread. Seryozha was hospitalized in the name of Mishkino. Bear took pity on a friend and gave him a nut, but he forgot it on the porch. He stumbled around the market while he went to the hospital, was late for the train. At the station, Mishka pushed his aunt and she poured boiling water on her fingers, the boy was grabbed by a policeman and dragged into an ortchek. They told him to drag firewood with stowaways. One fell down without strength: she needed to eat, but nothing.

In the evening, Bear found a bone with fish and ate it. He learned from peasants that bread in Tashkent is getting more expensive, and in Samarkan it is still cheap. In the morning, when he woke up, he saw that his bag with all the "good" was stolen. At the hospital he was told that Seryozha was dead, Bear is crying: sorry for a friend. They fed Bear in orcheche, put him on a train. The men want to throw him out of the car, and the boy pretends to be sleeping. At the station, Mishka wanted to use the toilet, but he was afraid to go out: what if they would not let me go back. He deceived the men in the car (the story of uncle in Tashkent). Then they collected money, because the driver will not go like that. The bear threw a piece of paper, but in the dark no one noticed. The man Prokhor kept asking Mishka, so that his uncle would help him sell everything to the Kyrgyz. Bear also went to sell, barely managed to catch on the last car. At the bus stop everyone is not allowed back. Bear saw the boy Trofim, who delves into the trash, and joined him. The boys saw the dog who stole the bread, caught up with it and took the bread. Mishka and Trofim became friends and rode together. They ride on the roof of the train, others also ride here. 1 woman died, it’s cold and hungry, the boys warm each other. Bear sold a jacket for 2000, eat bread. The boys want to climb the roof again, but they are not allowed in, and everyone went on foot. The soldier encourages them with stories about Tashkent, but the forces leave everyone.

But then a train appeared, Trofim manages to jump, but Mishka is not. He went alone, not knowing where. The stubborn power of living strengthens his legs. Mishka came to the station, asked the driver for a carriage. They took it, drunk it with boiling water, gave bread (it was not bread that warmed him with joy, but kind affection, a good smile on the driver's face). They landed the boy at the station, said that they were going for repairs, and then they would pick up Mishka. The boy for the past 1000 buys bread, begins to talk with everyone, asks for alms for entertainment (they gave a stub with a worm and watermelon peels). Mishka sat down again to the driver, fed him, Bear could not express his gratitude, his eyes were shining, he looked at the driver with love and gave him his knife. A boy arrived in Tashkent. At first I ate rotten fruits, I still could not find work. And then he worked in the gardens, threshed wheat, brought home grain and bread. His brothers died, his sick mother was lying on the bed. “Okay, there’s nothing to bother now, I’ll start up again.”