Perched amid the leaves of the Osage orange tree in her stepfathers backyard, Beryl Fonteyn observes the life around herMamas desperate attempts to gain Jacks approval by writing her novel, which he mercilessly critiques; her brother Stevies unhealthy fascination with acting out events from the Bible; and Jacks obsession with his beesall the while imagining that her runaway father will one day return. But as Beryls adolescent turmoil collides with the confines of Jacks eccentric home, a shattering secret will divide their loyaltiesand in one irrevocable moment the home that Beryls family has found, their shelter in the storm, will be torn apart forever. . . .From the Trade Paperback edition.