The story is also a family saga. Rose's mother is manic-depressive and much of the first half of the novel is focused on Rose's understanding of and coping with her mother's period of illness. These sections also highlight Rose and Jessie's relationship as young girls, including Jessie's wild acting-out in response to her father's sexual abuse. In the end, with the support of friends and the hard lessons born from life's challenges, Rose takes the risks to create a life she wants rather than the life she thinks she's 'supposed to have.