It is about a young boy named Lucas, who is the title character in the book and who likes to torment ants.

Lucas is a boy who is perceived as "strange" by his peers due to his funny glasses and propeller beanie (hat).

After a while, the queen tells Lucas that he has one last test to be set free: he must go home and bring her a Red Sweet Rock (jelly bean).

When they reach his house, they find a box of swell jells, but Lucas's father sees the ants and tries to smash them with a fly swatter.

Lucas falls asleep and wakes up to see Sid, only to his surprise the ants got to him first and shrunk him as revenge.