The story begins with a mother, Ingrid and her daughter, Astrid. Ingrid is a feminist poet who writes for a living. Ingrid kills her boyfriend, Barry, out of revenge and is sent to prison, leaving Astrid without a mother and a home. Astrid is on her own and goes through a series of different foster homes in the Los Angeles area.
She is first sent to live with a woman named Starr and her boyfriend, Ray, along with Starr's three children. Astrid is content with living with this family. However, a sexual relationship with Ray destroys any hope to live with that family. Starr finds out about the relationship and shoots Astrid, wounding her in several areas.
The next foster home that she is placed in is the home of a woman named Marvel Turlock. Astrid has many roles in the house including watching her children, cleaning, and being her cosmetologist. She is quite unhappy living with this woman until she meets the neighbor, a black woman named Olivia Johnstone. Astrid and Olivia begin spending time together, and soon Astrid is extremely attached to her. Astrid admires the beauty and elegance of Olivia and the way she can control men. However, when Marvel finds out about their relationship, Astrid is removed from her home.
After Marvel, Astrid is sent to live with a woman named Amelia Ramos. Amelia took in many orphaned girls like Olivia, so that she could receive child care services. However, Amelia doesn't care for any of these girls. She starves the girls by only feeding them on weekends. Astrid hates living with Amelia and contacts her caseworker to be transferred to another place. Finally, after three months her wish is granted.
Astrid is introduced to the home of Claire Richards and her husband, Ron. Claire is caring and loving to Astrid and treats Astrid like a daughter. Astrid begins to love Claire and they have a wonderful relationship. Astrid does well in school and Claire makes sure she receives education in art. However, Ron's continual neglect causes Claire to spiral down into depression and hopelessness. Claire commits suicide, and once again Astrid is left alone.
She is then sent to MacLaren Children's Center (or MAC), which is a child care center for delinquents and orphans that don't have a home. Astrid befriends a boy named Paul Trout and they share their artistic talent with each other. At this point, Astrid no longer hopes to find a loving family or true happiness in her life. She willingly goes to live with a Russian woman named Rena Grushenka, and befriends Yvonne and Niki, two other foster girls. They live in a trash-filled apartment and live by buying and selling junk.
When she graduates from high school, Astrid leaves Rena and goes to Berlin to live with Paul Trout. (Note: Throughout the novel, Astrid and Ingrid exchange letters. Ingrid's presence is constant in Astrid's life for good and bad.) At the end of the novel, Astrid finds out that Ingrid is released from prison after nine years of confinement. Although Astrid never speaks to her mother again, she still privately shows concern about her and secretly wishes that she can return to LA, which she will always consider her home, and be with her mother.
Home
Setting
Characters
Literary Devices
Theme and Point of View
