Summary

Part 1 of the novel begins by detailing the history of the Owens family. Starting with Susanna, the mother of the three main characters, the readers are informed of the pattern of Owens children have of rebelling against their parents. Susanna spent her rebellious youth in Paris before settling in New York City to start a family. She has three children: Frances, Bridget, and Vincent. Frances is more often called Franny while Bridget is referred to as Jet for her jet-black hair. Since his birth, Vincent has possessed an irresistible charm that makes everyone love him from the first sight, including a nurse who attempted to kidnap him hours after he was born. The children grow up on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, attending the prestigious Starling School, which they do not like. Franny and Jet especially do not their school because...