The novel follows the life of Pattyn, a seventeen year old girl from a Mormon family. However, she feels oppressed by the rules and regulations that are imposed by the Mormons upon her. Ironically, her father is a drunk who regularly beats her mother, a fact that makes her resent her father. Her mother is submissive and shares her father's want for a male heir to carry on the family name. With little other choice, Pattyn is left to take care of her 6 younger sisters.
In defiance of her father, Pattyn begins dating another teenage boy named Derek simply to spite him. They partake in many immoral (at least from a Mormon point of view) activities, including drinking, but never have sex. However, on one of their drinking escapades, they are caught by her father. Shortly after, Derek leaves her for another girl. These events prove to be a tipping point and send Pattyn into an all out rebellion against her parents and the Mormon Church. During this period, her mother discovers that she is pregnant with a son and her father shoves the responsibility of dealing with the rebellious Pattyn to her Aunt Jeanette by sending Pattyn to live with Aunt Jeanette in the eastern part of the state.
Her Aunt Jeanette, whom she refers to as Aunt J, treats her much better than her parents, something she is thankful for. During her time with Aunt J, she begins to date a boy from UC Davis, Ethan. However, on one of their dates, Pattyn's father arrives with a corrupt deputy and proceeds to beat Ethan up and threaten him with death for the fact that he isn't a Mormon. This, however, does not deter Pattyn and Ethan from furthering their relationship and finally having sex.
Nearing the end of the summer, Pattyn receives letters from one of her sisters, Jackie. Jackie writes that she has been beaten repeatedly by their father now that their mother is pregnant and he does not want to hurt the baby. Pattyn also finds out that she is going to be sent back at the end of summer.
Shortly after she returns home for the new school year, Pattyn finds out that she is pregnant with Ethan's child. She plans to elope with Ethan and raise the baby together. However, just as they are about to escape, her father finds out and they are embroiled in a car chase. During this car chase, Ethan's car skids and he and their baby perish in the crash. Pattyn is also knocked unconscious and only finds this out when she awakens at the hospital. Once she recovers, she is exiled from home and plants a seed of resentment towards her father deep in her.
