The novel opens with a prologue featuring a dying 57-year-old Joe, who is grappling with regrets and attempting to reconcile with his past. His sister Mae informs him that someone is there to see him.
The primary narrative then shifts to the 1960s, focusing on an Indigenous family from Nova Scotia who work as berry pickers in Maine. The family, consisting of parents Mom and Pop, and children Mae, Charlie, Ben, Joe, and young Ruthie, live in a run-down shack provided by the farm owner, Mr. Ellis. Ruthie, a lively and spirited child, goes missing while playing in the woods, leading to a frantic search by the family. The community, including Mr. Ellis and the police, offers little support, and the family is devastated. Eventually, they return to Nova Scotia, holding onto Ruthie’s belongings in hopes of her return.
Over the years, the family experiences more tragedy. Charlie is killed in a fight, and Joe, burdened by guilt, becomes self-destructive. He marries, abandons his wife and daughter Leah, and spends years working odd jobs. During this time, he occasionally visits Mr. Ellis’s farm, hoping Ruthie might return. In a powerful scene, Joe confronts Charlie’s killer, unaware of his identity.
As the family gradually loses hope of finding Ruthie, Mom, fueled by her Christian faith, maintains belief in Ruthie’s survival. Ben claims to have seen her at an Indian Rights rally, but the family dismisses it as wishful thinking. Joe’s whereabouts remain unknown until Ben locates him, urging him to return home as their mother faces declining health.
The narrative alternates with Ruthie’s life, now known as Norma, raised by a White WASP family in New England. Unaware of her Indigenous origins, Norma experiences dreams and visions of her imaginary friends, Ruthie and Joe. Her Aunt June introduces her to therapist Alice, who encourages her to document her thoughts in a journal. Despite her overprotective parents, Norma grows up fighting for independence, eventually discovering her adoption.
Norma marries Mark, but their marriage falters after a miscarriage. Becoming an English teacher, she grapples with unfulfillment. When her father dies, Norma realizes her mother has dementia, a fact hidden from her. Caring for her ailing mother, she learns of her adoption and her mother’s paranoia about being discovered as a kidnapper. Determined to find her true family, Norma returns to the spot where she was taken, discovering a shack with a mural depicting Joe and Ruthie.
Norma, supported by Aunt June, decides to contact her biological family. She writes a letter, enclosing a photograph and recounting her memories. The family in Nova Scotia receives the letter, and Mae excitedly shares the news that Ruthie has been found. Norma, now Ruthie again, travels to Nova Scotia, where she reunites with Joe, Mae, Ben, and Mom. They confirm her identity through shared memories and appearances, and the family is overjoyed to have Ruthie back.
Ruthie stays with her family until Joe’s death, attending his funeral. She confesses her uncertainty about embracing her Indigenous identity, and the family reassures her that identity is a personal journey. The novel concludes with Ruthie and Mom attending church together, celebrating their reunion.
In this poignant tale, the narrative explores themes of loss, identity, and the enduring power of family bonds. The characters grapple with the complexities of their past while finding solace and connection in their shared history. Ruthie’s journey to rediscover her roots serves as a central thread, interwoven with Joe’s redemption and the family’s enduring hope. The novel underscores the transformative nature of love and reconciliation across generations.