The story begins with fourteenyear-old Sarah's efforts to keep secret the happy time she has spent alone enjoying the early spring on top of Holy Hill. She is naturally exuberant, self-questioning, and fond of secrets.

She is stubborn enough to ignore the Shaker rule of openness, and she tells lies to hide her innermost thoughts and forbidden acts. Sarah tries to be pure and obedient in the Shaker way, but she cannot seem to find her particular "gift." She vaguely remembers happy times with her parents before she was a Shaker, although these are hard to reconcile with the harshly abusive presence of her mother in the settlement.

Sarah's inner struggles are increased by her awareness of Abel, the novel's other prominent character.

Sixteen-year-old Abel, left to the Shakers as a foundling, also wonders about the World outside. He questions most of all the...