This novel tells the story of Dr. Wilbur Larch—saint and obstetrician, founder and director of the orphanage in the town of St. Cloud's, Maine, and a man of rare compassion and an addiction to ether. Dr. Larch loves all his orphans, especially Homer Wells, who is never adopted and becomes his invaluable apprentice. As Homer comes of age, he must leave the only home he's ever known to explore the world outside, a world filled with temptations and moral dilemmas, from the struggle over abortion to the question of what constitutes a family.

The novella follows four young friends in a small town in Maine who embark on a quest to find the body of a missing boy. Set in the 1960s, the story is a coming-of-age tale that explores themes of friendship, mortality, and the loss of innocence. As the boys journey through the woods, encountering various obstacles and reflecting on their personal struggles and fears, they confront the harsh realities of the adult world and the inevitability of change. The narrative delves deep into the characters' psyches, revealing their innermost thoughts and the bonds that tie them together, while also painting a poignant picture of childhood's end.