As the daughter of a US Marine and a young Australian war bride, Lily navigates an often confusing and tumultuous world. Set predominantly in rural New England, the beauty and bleakness of the landscape are balanced with the vibrant and colorful descriptions of the people and happenings in rural and small town life. There are her loving Swedish grandparents and an assortment of local characters, Aunt Agneta braiding rugs, old red barns, orchards and dairy cows, freezing cold winters, and ice skating... and the harsh unpredictability of her parents to keep Lily on her toes.