British Columbia

The novel is set in this province, the westernmost province in Canada bordering on the Pacific Ocean.

Coal Harbor

This small coastal community in British Columbia is where Primrose and her family make their home.

Primrose's Notebook

Throughout the narrative, Primrose writes in a notebook left behind by her mother. There is the sense that for Primrose, her attachment to the notebook (and to writing in it) is a metaphoric manifestation of her attachment to her parents and to her faith that they will return.

The Recipes

Each chapter of the book refers to a recipe that Primrose writes into the back of her notebook. While the notebook metaphorically represents Primrose's hope/faith that her parents are alive, the recipes are fairly literal manifestations of that hope/faith. She writes them down knowing her parents will be coming home.

The Girl on the Red Swing

This...