The novel follows the story of fifteen-year-old Dell Parsons, whose life is irrevocably changed after his parents commit a bank robbery in 1960s Montana. After the heist goes awry, Dell is left to fend for himself, and he crosses the border into Saskatchewan, Canada. There, he encounters a new world of isolation and hardship, and a series of characters who will shape his understanding of life. As Dell navigates his new reality, he reflects on the events that led to his family's downfall and his own coming of age in a foreign land. The narrative is a profound exploration of destiny, self-reliance, and the indelible impact of one's family and past.

The 9177th greatest book of all time