Carverton, Kentucky, is one of many small communities in the mountains of Appalachia that have endured for centuries, undisturbed by progress. Nestled along the west bank of the Red Bird River, it's a pleasant, neighborly place where everyone knows everyone, and if they don't, they soon will. As 1960 approaches, the residents of Carverton realize that ignoring the ever-changing world around them is no longer an option. New challenges unfold throughout the community, while twelve-year-old Wilhelmina Louise Carver, called Willa Lou, takes interest in her own heritage. She listens to stories and experiences of her elders, pursuing hints of a mystery. But when a tragic accident leaves her looking for comfort in her grief, she stumbles upon a well-kept secret. This novel, set in small-town Kentucky in the middle of the twentieth century, tells the story of a young girl coming of age in the midst of tragedy.