Karl Thomas lives a simple, almost idealistic life. Despite that fact, he is determined to complicate it. Even if he doesn't think like the typical nine year old, he encounters normal boyhood issues while growing up with his older brother Mark, in their hometown of Canton, Ohio. At the end of his summer vacation before fourth grade, Karl faces a challenge to impress Sonya Thurston, his lifelong neighbor and best friend. Like many childhood experiences, this plan is silly and seemingly harmless, but it also has the potential for unintended consequences. Similar to following the sprawling branches of a tree, every decision he makes has repercussions that spread out into numerous directions. In a story of what if’s, "One Degree" follows the lives of Karl, his friends, and family as they react to life challenges at pivotal moments in two possible story lines.