Narrated by the voice of Ben Jordan's daughter, Munro's story revolves around the Jordan family after they have lost their business operating a fox farm and Mr. Jordan is forced to work for Walker Brothers as a door-to-door salesman during the Great Depression. Yet the underlying social concern really seems to be about the family's ability to cope with change, and whether Ben Jordan's son and daughter will use this calamity as a lesson with which to make a rite of passage to adulthood.

On the surface, Mr. Jordan appears to be able to handle his reduced circumstances far better than Mrs. Jordan. Mr. Jordan has been able to face the uncertainties of life with humor and kindness. He jokes with his daughter about making sure that the lake is still in its place and makes light of his own job. At the same time, Mr...