The following version of this book was used to create this study guide: Black, Daniel. Don't Cry for Me. Hanover Square Books, 2022.

Jacob begins the novel by writing a letter to his son, Isaac, to apologize for the way he treated him throughout his childhood and to try and explain his faults by sharing more about his childhood. He laments beginning to die at the age of sixty-two because he did not have nearly enough time to enjoy his life. Jacob was raised by his grandparents, and he did not have a cuddly, loving childhood. They lived in rural Arkansas and tended to their farm. Jacob only went to school through the eighth grade. He always dreamed of having a son that he could share about the world with and teach.

As Jacob got older, he continued working in the fields with his grandfather and older brother, Esau. When Esau caught a fever and died, Jacob felt bereft and lost in the world. Esau was like a father figure to him, and he could not imagine going on by himself.

A few years later, Jacob met Rachel, the young woman who would become Isaac's mother, and they began courting each other. She lived in Kansas City but came down to Arkansas to visit family from time to time. As they fell in love, Jacob left Arkansas to marry Rachel and move to Kansas City. Before they could marry, Rachel became pregnant. He was ashamed of himself at the time for getting her pregnant before they were married. He bought them a house and felt such joy before Isaac was born.

After Isaac was born, Jacob was a doting father. Rachel quickly became anxious and dependent on alcohol because Jacob left her at home all day to work and often spent the night out with other women and his friends.

Jacob began waiting for Isaac to become interested in sports and other stereotypically masculine activities, but he never did. He had a talent for piano, and Jacob saved for an entire year to buy one for him. Isaac quit playing a few years later when the other children made fun of him.

After Isaac turned nine, Jacob forced him to play baseball and football, but he was never interested in pursuing these sports. Jacob began to feel like a failure as a father.

There were more clues as Isaac became a teenager that he might be gay, and he tried to come out to his parents several times. They were flabbergasted and worried that he would not be able to have a normal life if he lived as a gay man. Isaac was devastated by their lack of acceptance, and he resolved to keep that part of his life to himself going forward. Jacob and Isaac grew more estranged and the family never recovered before Rachel died of breast cancer. As Jacob finishes his letter to his son, he promises that he did indeed love him, and he apologizes for everything that hurt him, also promising that he did his best to raise him well.