The book is about the spiral staircase at the Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico, rumored to have miraculous origins.

[1] It was adapted into the 1998 television movie The Staircase starring William Petersen (as Joad), Barbara Hershey (as Mother Madalyn), and Diane Ladd (as Sister Margaret).

The school is run by the Sisters of Loretto, and as a Methodist, Lizzy cannot comprehend their dedication to Catholicism and is bothered by what she sees as hypocrisy.

She thinks the nuns who pray to Saint Joseph for help to finish their choir loft (which does not have a staircase) are crazy.

Her classmates are furious, as they believe his presence will prevent Saint Joseph from providing the staircase through a miracle.