This is told in first person. The story begins with Alice as a school girl in the late 40's, growing up in small town Wisconsin, an only child in a middle class family. A trumatic event occurs in her life in high school, in the 60's, and this affects her in many ways. Although Alice is a sweet, lovely young women, she has strong feelings personally and politically. She is greatly influenced by her beloved grandmother, who lives with her family. Her life evolves in directions that she never dreamed of. In many ways she lives the American dream, with it's peaks and valleys. I could not put it down! Very well written. Author Curtis Sittenfeld is a female author, by the way.