Nyle and his grandma live on a sheep farm. Her dad left and her mom has died. A nuclear accident nearby destroys much land, kills many and gives many radiation sickness. Ezra, a refugee in need of care, comes to stay with Nyle and her grandma.

It took awhile to figure out where this story took place. I thought it was set in Eastern Europe in the 60’s or 70’s. It was actually supposed to be present day East Coast (near Boston.) I read this book in June of 2001. I wonder if I had read it 4 months later, if it would have been as difficult for me to imagine such a disaster taking place here.