Mohawk, New York

Mohawk is the small town where Ned grows up. It falls into decline after World War II. Many of the shops downtown close, and buildings are torn down and replaced by parking lots, giving the skyline a gap-toothed look. Mohawk is where most of the scenes in the novel take place.

Ned's Bike

This brand new, beautiful, twenty-six-inch bike shows up mysteriously on the front porch one day. Ned wants to believe it came from his father, but he doesn't know for sure. He uses the bike to escape into Myrtle Park during the summer of 1959.

White Jewel House

A white house in Mohawk that Ned gazes at often. It is a symbol of wealth and success, and it looks like a shining jewel on the hill when it reflects the sun. Ned wonders what it would be like to live in that house. Later...