After her best friend and lover hangs for the crime of Possession of Unapproved Materials, Esther stows away on the Library Wagon passing through town. But when she wakes up to the barrel of the Head Librarian’s revolver, she realizes her escape from danger has only led to violence and intrigue (and possibly, a romance).

Gailey’s return to uncharted American territory is less joyful than American Hippo, but delivers an action-packed story of identity and resistance.