Nine-year-old Jesse Hall and his pregnant mother leave an abusive relationship with Jesse's dad. They find a small place in a small town in rural Ohio. No car, no money, no job, Jesse's mom takes on sewing while Jesse collects bottles and delivers papers to make ends meet. Jesse has a run in with a local preacher, a school bully, and a well meaning social worker, all of which threaten their ability to stay together as a family. This is the first book in a three-book series called Searching for Family.