Named the guardian of her murdered sister's troubled twins, Luce struggles to build a family with the children before being targeted by the twins' father--her sister's killer--who believes that the children are in possession of a stolen cache of money.

The story of ten-year-old Lori Jean, abandoned by her father when she was just five years old, Lori Jean's world consists of a weak-willed mother and an alcoholic stepfather who can't keep a steady job. Yet Lori Jean is filled with the curiosity and hope common to all children. When Lori Jean uncovers her stepfather's secret, everything spins out of control and she pays the ultimate price for what she knows.

When her mother's depression escalates to dangerous levels while her father is away fighting in World War II, 12-year-old Ellen reaches out to an estranged aunt, discovering the quiet strength of family along the way.