At thirteen, Ellen Stump's world has never stretched beyond the rugged hills of Mississippi. Her imagination, however, roams far and wide, fueled by the vibrant reports of Maureen Sinclair on the News at Noon. Despite venturing into the nearby town, Ellen often feels awkward and misplaced, her solitary home life leaving her with few friends. For most of her young life, she found comfort in the farm's close embrace, but now, as the newscaster unveils the expanses of the world, Ellen begins to feel the walls closing in.

Their once-beloved horse, Sleet, who brought so much joy to Ellen and her younger brother Billy, has turned into Ellen's grim specter. A storm a year before the story's start saw Sleet throw Billy, resulting in a fatal broken neck. He lies buried beside Ellen's mother beneath the chinaberry tree on the hill. Now, Ellen avoids Sleet, her fear of the towering creature growing to monstrous proportions.

To reach the Stumps' nearest neighbor, one must trek forty minutes to Granny Bo's rustic log cabin, devoid of electricity and telephones. Ellen dutifully checks on the elderly woman multiple times a week. Renowned for her eerie foresight, Granny Bo accurately foretold Ellen's mother's passing, and her superstitious beliefs seep into Ellen's thoughts. Granny fans the flames of Ellen's fear, claiming the devil leaped from old man Keats into Sleet upon his death. She also sows seeds of dread in Ellen with tales of a night cry that portends an evil fate in which Ellen is destined to partake.

Joe Stump, Ellen's father, has dabbled in a myriad of trades—from truck farming to bricklaying, painting, and gas station tending—now peddles calendars. His pragmatic perspective provides a glimmer of clarity in Ellen's increasingly shadowy world. Ellen sees in him a man capable of "finding a silver lining in a sinkhole," though his restlessness hints at a life confined to one place. Despite his reluctance to leave Ellen, Joe consoles himself with the thought that his absence is temporary, assuring a better life upon his return.

Gerald Hawkes, a stranger seeking sustenance for himself and his mentally ill wife in return for labor around the farm, introduces another unsettling element into Ellen's life. His stories clash with Ellen's reality, but desperation breeds trust; Ellen, in her father's absence, clings to Gerald's presence as the sole adult support.

Jimmy-Clyde, who pedals up the Stump's rut-filled road twice a week with groceries from the local store, is a year Ellen's senior yet possesses the mind of a child. Ellen's kindness shines through in her defense of Jimmy-Clyde, who seems to suffer from Down's Syndrome, against the taunts of village children. His loyalty is unwavering and crucial when, at the story's crescendo, Ellen bravely rescues a kidnapped boy from the clutches of Gerald and his wife.

These vivid characters dance through the narrative, underscoring Naylor's theme of trust versus skepticism. Ellen teeters on an emotional seesaw, her trepidation clouding her judgment, leading to missteps. Her isolation amplifies her fears—the horse, Granny Bo's ominous tales, and the lurking unknown. Alone while her father is away, the night is alive with threatening whispers, each sound magnifying her inner turmoil. Ultimately, Ellen faces her fears, realizing she alone dictates her mind's boundaries. Will she let superstition cage her, or embrace the broader world around her?

The exhilarating rescue of the child marks a turning point as the author meticulously disentangles the origins of Ellen's fears. The convergence of place, time, and weather on the day of Billy's death transformed a cherished horse into a fearsome specter. Gossip about a solitary old woman stoked her fear of Granny Bo and her eerie stories. Finally, her father's departure sparked unfounded suspicions against the man she cherished most.