The primary setting of this book is Alaska. The father, Ernt was in the Vietnam War and was captured for 6 years. He has a wife, Cora and a daughter Leni. They lived in Oregon, and since Ernt came home from the war he was not the same person. He was angry all the time, couldn’t hold down a job, they were always moving and always fighting.
He received a letter one day from the father of his buddy that died in the war. It stated that the buddy had left him the land and cabin that he owned in Alaska.
Ernt decided that this was the new start that they needed and prepared to move to Alaska. Cora did not have a good relationship with her parents who lived fairly close but she went to visit them before they left to see if she could get some money from them, which came in very handy since there were not a lot of jobs where they were going.
This book gave a vivid view of Alaska and the people who live there and why. It was a journey through Ernts deteriorating mental health. It took us through the domestic violence that he bestowed upon Cora and then Leni. Cora could not give up on Ernt until he had turned his violence onto Leni. The people of the town where they lived banded together and helped, first as newbies who were totally unprepared for the Alaska winters and then to help Cora and Leni get away. I could feel the coldness of the winter and how hard it was to cope, along with the long nights. Very enjoyable book!