This is the story of Jen and her relationships with the two Johns of her life her younger brother who was killed in Vietnam and his namesake the son who is trying to find his way in a confusing world Jen and her younger brother John are growing up in the everchanging world of midcentury America As the country becomes divided over the war in Vietnam so does the family and battle lines are drawn between the onceclose siblings When John is killed in Vietnam Jen is left to reconcile her memory of their fractured relationship along with her son and brothers namesake