Frances Dalton has her back to the wall. She's seventeen, pregnant, and living in a Montreal convent, a reluctant nun-in-training. Everything is against her - the rigid mores of the church, the crippling destitution of the Depression, and most of all the uncertain identity of her child's father.

Going home means a life of shame and limitation. Her only option is escape. She grabs every chance, breaks the rules, and determines not to live the way others think she should. Raising a daughter on her own and reconnecting with her past in unexpected ways, Frances transcends imposed limits and builds a life on her own terms. This is a compelling story of forbearance and forgiveness.