"Machine Dreams" is a novel that explores the lives of the Hampson family, set against the backdrop of major American events from the Great Depression through the Vietnam War. Told from different perspectives, the book delves into the individual and collective experiences of the family, their relationships, and their struggles. It provides an intimate look at the impact of war, economic hardship, and societal changes on a typical American family.

This novel explores the emotional journey of a young girl named Sara Godfrey, who is grappling with the complexities of adolescence in a small town. The story reaches its climax during a summer when Sara's mentally challenged younger brother, Charlie, goes missing. As Sara embarks on a desperate search to find him, she confronts her own insecurities and learns valuable lessons about responsibility, family bonds, and self-acceptance. Through this experience, Sara undergoes a profound personal transformation, marking a pivotal summer that shapes her understanding of the world and her place within it.

This memoir recounts the unconventional, poverty-stricken upbringing the author and her siblings had at the hands of their deeply dysfunctional parents. Their father, an alcoholic, and their mother, an eccentric artist, frequently neglected them, leaving them to fend for themselves. Despite their parents' personal struggles, they instilled a love of learning and a sense of self-sufficiency in their children, which helped them to escape their chaotic home life and build successful lives as adults.