Thirty-two-year-old Alice Goodwin begins the unremarkable June day much as every other on the small dairy farm. Suddenly, within the span of minutes, Alice's map of her world is forever altered when her neighbor's two-year-old-left with Alice for the morning-wanders away and drowns in the farm pond. In the style of Jane Smiley and Sue Miller, award-winning author Hamilton composes an emotionally charged story of guilt, atonement and love that immerses the listener in Alice's private maelstrom of guilt.