"The world of eight-year-old Cherry Laurel is an intensely sensual one - of cold noses, burning autumn leaves, changes of heart, childhood, nationhood... and betrayal. Her mother Bell and her father Jackson are failing to cope with domestic life. Cherry's two young sisters, Holly and Ivy, are sneezing and sneaking around the house, worrying about bears and debt. Just another average Midwestern 1970's family."--Publisher description.