Turn Homeward, Hannalee focuses on events in the life of Hannalee Reed, a twelve-year-old worker in a mill in the Georgian town of Roswell. She tells the story in the first person, so every event is described from her point-of-view.

Therefore, much of the fighting of the Civil War in 1864 and 1865 is not discussed because Hannalee has no idea of what is going on. This is realistic; during the Civil War civilians often did not learn of battles and outcomes until a month or even more later. Hannalee's not knowing how the war is going on the battlefield adds some suspense to the novel because soldiers of either side could pop up anywhere; it also adds poignancy to the story because her life, like those of many others, is profoundly affected by events she knows nothing about.

Hannalee is an intelligent person, even though...