Pattyn's mother, however, only conceived seven girls, named after famous generals: (youngest to oldest) Georgia (George Patton), Roberta (Robert E. Lee), Davie (Jefferson Davis), Teddie (Theodore Roosevelt), Ulyssa (Ulysses S. Grant), Jackie (Jack Pershing), and Pattyn (George Patton).

Pattyn is unable to take the stress going on in her home, and begins to question her role in life, especially through her father's eyes.

Pattyn becomes openly defiant and talks back to both her parents and pastor, lashing out and releasing all of the built up emotions and objections she has held for her Mormon lifestyle for a number of years.

As a punishment, she is sent away to live with her Aunt Jeanette in eastern Nevada, because her mother is finally expecting a son and does not need to deal with the stress that Pattyn creates.

During the time Pattyn lives with her aunt, she learns how to love and how to be self-confident, and finds out that there is more to life than just religion, which is a belief she had before but was now confirmed.

In town, word quickly gets out to Pattyn's father and in an attempt to prevent her from leaving, calls his friend to stop them.

In the ensuing car chase, Ethan goes on an icy road heading to California to escape the deputy's jurisdiction.

Hopkins said she didn't plan to release a sequel but, because of high demand from her fans she decided to continue the series.

"[citation needed] Jeff Gottesfeld characterized the book as "literary group character assassination" of Mormonism, adding that the church is "unrelentingly bashed" in the novel.