Boy Novak is the daughter of a rat catcher. She was abused by her alcoholic father. She flees home and ends up in Flax Hill, New England. She will live in a boarding home with other single women. She finally decides to marry a man, Auturo Whitman who is a single father with a daughter named Snow. When Boy has a baby, Bird, it is dark skinned. Boy can't deal with Summer's white skin so she sends Summer to live with Aunt Clara. Boy doesn't think that Bird will live successfully with Snow's beauty.

The author has written an emotional filled novel. It is also about the complications of racial and gender identity in the 1950's. It is a terrific story.