The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Verble, Margaret. When Two Feathers Fell from the Sky. HarperCollins Publishers, 2021.

Margaret Verble's novel When Two Feathers Fell from the Sky is written from the third person point of view and in the past tense. Like the narrative itself, the following summary employs a linear mode of explanation.

In the spring of 1926, the Glendale park and zoo season was just beginning. Horse diving performer, Two Feathers, was feeling energized and exhilarated by her new job. After last season's injury, she was glad to be back to her old lifestyle. She felt free and independent at Glendale, and excited about developing her newfound friendships.

Then one day, Two received a mysterious letter signed with the pseudonym Strong-Red-Wolf. Though the contents of the note were relatively innocuous, the man's obviously fabricated native name troubled Two. She did not like the idea of a white person pretending to be a Native American. Though she tried to dismiss her worries, the letter continued surfacing in her mind. She received a second letter shortly thereafter. This second message amplified Two's worry. She tried talking to her friend Crawford about her concerns, but Crawford was preoccupied with the conflicts of his courtship and a recent hate crime against his cousin.

During her next performance, Two tried focusing on the show, but found her mind distracted by Strong-Red-Wolf and his seemingly nefarious intentions. Though she noticed that her horse, Ocher, seemed distressed about the dive, Two did it anyway. Upon landing on the platform, the platform gave way. Two and Ocher descended into a sinkhole.

With the help of Clive, the park and zoo manager, Crawford descended into a neighboring cave in search of Two. Because Clive had served in the Great War, he had experience navigating similar terrains. He found Two and helped her with her injured leg. Suddenly, Clive began seeing apparitions of his dead friends.

In the days following Two's release from the hospital, Two struggled emotionally. She realized that her horse was dead and that her broken leg rendered her incapable of working. She began spending most of her days sitting in her dorm room or on the dormitory porch. Though Clive and Crawford, as well as her other friends Helen, Franny, and Marty visited her, Two was lonely. She particularly missed being able to visit and talk to the zoo animals.

Then one day, Clive visited with a new hire named Jack. Two welcomed Jack's company. He was smart and handsome, and a happy distraction from her sorrow. However, when Jack revealed himself to be Strong-Red-Wolf, Two demanded he stay away from her.

Soon, Jack was fired for other pranks and antics on the property. Furious for the way he had been treated, Jack snuck back to the park and electrocuted one of the hippos.

The members of the Glendale community were unsure how to handle what was going on. They could not resolve the hippo's death, and worried that the culprit might be planning more attacks.

Meanwhile, Little Elk, the spirit of a murdered native boy, grew increasingly attached to Two Feathers. He realized that she was Cherokee, and that Jack was a danger to her. The more he watched her, the more worried he became for her well being. Desperate for companionship of his own, and eager to avenge his own death, Little Elk decided to keep his eye on Jack.

When Jack returned to the property and electrocuted one of the bears, Little Elk raced to the scene. He attacked Jack, killed and scalped him, and dragged his body into the woods. The Glendale workers and friends rallied together to solve these mysteries. When they found Jack's body, they decided to bury him quietly in the cave where Two had broken her legs. Two and her friends decided that they must let the past go, and build a better and more sustainable future together.