Portland, Maine

Portland is the largest city in Maine. Approximately 500,000 people live in Portland’s greater metropolitan area. Portland is the setting for a majority of the action in the novel. Ona, Quinn, Belle, Ted, and the boy all live in Portland, although the book does not clarify whether they live in the city proper or whether they live in adjacent suburbs. Quinn works as a musician in and around Portland, although he sometimes goes out of town as well. Belle works as a librarian at the state records office in Portland, and Ted Ledbetter is the scoutmaster of one of the local Boy Scouts troops.

Ona’s House

Ona Vitkus lives in a small house in a quiet residential area in or near Portland, Maine. She is retired and lives alone. Once a week, the boy comes to her house to help with chores, discuss world records, and...