Winter is approaching and Jonathan Gillison finds himself injured, alone, and frightened atop a desolate mountain in New Hampshire. Haunted by guilt, he attempts to survive his ordeal through reading, drawing, and endless imaginary conversations. Meanwhile, in the world beyond the mountains, the lives of the characters from Webster's two previous books unfold and eventually connect with young Gillison. While the storyline represents a significant departure from the tenor of the author's previous stories, his devotion to Jeffersonian ideals remains. And although the trials of young Jonathan Gillison often seem insurmountable, his courage celebrates the possibilities of the human spirit.