[1]: 260 The story takes place in 1970s when the Ojibwe occupied the Anicinabe Park in Kenora at a community called "The Retreat" in a remote island.

The community is run by Doctor Amos, who treats his psychiatric patients in an unconventional way in a sanctuary like place he has created.

They have four children, eldest daughter Lizzy of seventeen years old takes care of the youngest two brothers Fish and William.

Every day when Doctor Amos bathes naked in a pond just outside the Retreat, Everett watches him hiding in the bushes and fancies him.

Mr. Byrd does not think much good of this non-conventional method of treating his wife but nevertheless stays just to give his family another trial to get back to normalcy.

[9] The novel was longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize which eventually was presented to Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden while being adjudged by Margaret Atwood, Bob Rae, and Colm Toibin.