During the summer after seventh grade, Cassie sees her close-knit family life in Bethany Beach, Delaware, changing drastically as her older sister has a baby, reveals the true nature of her husband, and announces the breakup of her marriage.
Having spent his fifteen years happily alone with his mother, Chip finds his familiar world threatened when she becomes pregnant, refuses to name the father, and confronts him with his own possessiveness.
Each of the barnyard animals takes a curious look at the strange-looking box with red wheels in the garden. Then suddenly whatever is inside the box moves.
When her mother has a new baby, Elizabeti is given charge of her younger brother and finds it more difficult to take care of him than it was to care for her rock doll.
