Summary

In Part I, “Umbrella,” Chapter 1, Sam lives with her mother Courtney and brother Noah. Although her dad Mitchell lives nearby, he is often away. Sam’s favorite thing to do is climb the doorframes at home.

When Mitchell picks up Sam for the fair, he is having car trouble. Sam has fun at the fair. When Mitchell sees a tower, he urges Sam to climb it. She gets all the way to the top and rings the bell. When it is time to leave, Mitchell cannot start his car. A stranger helps. Sam thinks Mitchell is famous. He travels around doing “his magic shows” or playing in “his one-man band” (10).

In Chapter 2, at Freeda’s Pizza, Mitchell tells Sam he used to climb. He liked going to Red Rocks in Gloucester. Sam wants to go someday. Mitchell promises to teach her climbing. One...