The semi-autobiographical novel is set primarily in small-town Kansas. It follows the protagonist, Sandy Rogers, through his childhood and adolescence. Sandy grows up in a multigenerational environment dominated by women. His mother, Annjee, and grandmother, Hager, have especially strong influences on him.

While Sandy shows an intellectual inclination, his family is divided over his future prospects. As his father, a musician, moves in and out of his daily life, his mother must make decisions about her own future as well as that of her son.

Sandy and his friends face discrimination in social settings, such as an amusement park, and struggle with an uninspiring school. Sandy must also contribute to the family income, and through his job in a hotel, he learns harsh lessons about race relations.

One traumatic event is his grandmother's death, after which Sandy must live with his pious aunt, Tempy, who imposes strict standards on him. She is contrasted with the artistic aunt, Harriet, who runs off to live the high life.

As Sandy grows older, his mother moves from Kansas to Chicago. Sandy joins her there, putting him into a radically different cultural environment. This in turn shapes his attitude about his potential future as a creative, educated person.