Coalfield, Tennessee

Most of the novel takes place in the (real) town of Coalfield, Tennessee, where the main character, Frankie, lives when she is a teenager. Coalfield is a small town in rural, suburban Tennessee that feels like a backwater, especially in comparison to where her friend Zeke hails from (Memphis). She describes several times how it feels like the town receives things that the world at large receives a couple months behind schedule. While she often laments not being in an area where more people seem to understand her and are closer to her, it becomes evident quickly that she has a lot of affection for the small town and wants other people to see its good qualities too.

Memphis

A small portion of the novel takes place in Memphis. The first excursion there comes when Zeke wants to show Frankie his hometown, so they go and hang...