The story involves Rose Chismores youth. She flashes back and remembers her coming-of-age. Her recollections are sometimes less than sweet, particularly those of her troubled and alcoholic stepfather. Her memories of Robin, her first love, are much happier, and she also recalls her colorful Aunt Starr, whose visit is fun, but also detrimental to her familys health. The setting of 1950s Nevada bomb testing is increasingly significant to the development of the story.