Seventeen-year-old Edward is bitter and volatile when he shows up at his aunt and uncle's farm in Cherry Lake, B.C., to grieve his dad's death. For two years, he's been caring for his mother through addiction and mental health struggles, and now he's finally returning to school to finish grade twelve. But he struggles to fit into a small town, and his new friends couldn't be more different: Adam is sweet but geeky, and Jason is more caustic than Edward. Meanwhile, Edward keeps meeting the Automaton, a mysterious robot man who appears to Edward and challenges his sense of reality and philosophy of life. When a prank goes awry, Edward has a run-in with the local police and learns that self-image and honour are crucial in a tight-knit community. He must choose between his destructive path and a hopeful future. As he's confronted with his own shortcomings over and over again, Edward slowly unearths his deepest fears and traumas-and begins to heal. But when Edward's older sister resurfaces needing help, he's faced with the biggest challenge of all: forgiving his family. The Dance of a Windmill is a heartfelt coming-of-age story about confronting destructive self-image, overcoming loss, and creating a worthwhile life.