Linda Ann and Jeff enjoy the use of the city's mass transit system, and they consider their relative mobility, at a young age, a true perk. Although she moves through the boroughs of New York with ease, Linda Ann spends most of her time at school, at home or with Jeff, practicing her guitar while he breeds and feeds parakeets. Jeff has a passion for genetic research of the scientific sort; Linda's own research in genetics—and genealogy—begins with the news that her father has died.

Silk Garcia's death is the point of departure for this narrative. It also steels Linda Ann's resolve to piece together the story of his life. Along the way, Linda begins to turn her inquiry inward, to examine her own motivation and behavior. Linda Ann unearths disturbing truths about her "genius" father: that he was a...