The Northwest

Lidia spends parts of her early childhood in the Northwest. Her father clearly loves this part of the world, and does too, choosing to return there after she leaves Lubbock, Texas. Lidia remembers learning to swim in the cold water of Lake Washington and the family driving to get a Christmas tree from the forest around Mount Rainier, where Lidia's father then violates her sister. The home and "sanctuary" she finally makes with Miles and Andy is in the Northwest, in the Oregon Bull Run. She brings her father back to the Northwest for his last two years before he dies.

Florida

When Lidia is 15, her family moves to Florida. She has to leave her friends and coach in Washington to start a life there again. She hates it and calls it a "hellhole" (p. 51). She complains about the heat and the temperature of the water...