Set against the backdrop of rural New Hampshire, the story follows Abi Maxwell, who grapples with her child's gender identity in a conservative community. Initially intending to raise her child away from societal norms, Abi faces turmoil when her child transitions and embraces a female identity. This personal journey explores themes of acceptance, familial love, and the challenges of navigating societal expectations, highlighting the tension between personal truth and community judgment.
A hypnotic story of youth, sex and power, and of two women cast out by the same community though separated by a hundred years
Alice Thorton, abandoned as an infant and adopted by a childless couple, grows up unaware of her family's rich history linked to strong female figures from Kettleborough, New Hampshire. As she yearns for acceptance, a mysterious connection to the town's lake and its central island emerges, guiding her on a journey to uncover the secrets of her ancestry. This exploration of identity and heritage reveals the powerful legacies of the women who came before her, shaping Alice's understanding of herself and her place in the world.