Lucy Diamond, a high school freshman in Montana, struggles to find her own way in life after growing up with a young, discontented mother and a mostly absent father.
Austin has always relied on his sister, Abilene, for comfort and amusement, but when Abilene's dreams for Austin's future take a darker turn, Austin begins to doubt Abilene's sanity.
When seventh grader Thad suffers a serious injury while playing monkey tag, his twin brother Eli blames God for the accident and becomes convinced that his Catholic upbringing is a fraud.
The author recounts his seven months working for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game in an isolated location that changed him from a college kid to a man.
