The fictional town of St. Petersburg is a village on the west bank of the Mississippi River in and around which the novel is set. The town is the embodiment of innocence and naivete for the people and is a community in the truest sense. It is a safe haven for the characters where everyone takes care of everyone else and their children. The town provides the security of connections that humans need to interact and empowers the children's vivid imaginations. The close proximity of the Mississippi River gives the town an adventurous characteristic, adding as well to the imagination of all the people.