The novel has many settings. In the portions of the book set in 1970 with Lyman, the book is set in California just outside Nevada City. Lyman lives on his grandparents’ estate called Zodiac cottage. In the part of the book set in the late 1800Wos, the setting takes place in Milton, NY, New York City, a mining camp in New Almaden, California, the town of Santa Cruz, California, a mining camp in Leadville, Colorado, Mexico, mining camp in Idaho, and a ranch in Idaho. Susan and Oliver Ward move often and each place offers a unique experience for them.