At fifteen, Alison decides it's time to get to know her father, who abandoned her when she was a child. She wants to spend the summer with him. He writes back, telling her she won't like it. He attempts to dissuade her. He fails. Their summer is a struggle. She brings her anger, seeking answers. He tries to drive her away. The novel is about their fight to find a relationship, and the distance they travel over a summer. It is intended for kids twelve to fifteen.