The novel starts with a breathtaking adventure. Andrew propels himself across wet tree roots in the Louisiana swamp to catch a hen. Pierre watches nervously. Pierre knows that the hens will provide them with eggs to eat once they return to Hotel de Jacques—the swampland hideaway named after its builder, their father. He also knows that Andrew is stealing. After an alligator bites Andrew's foot, Andrew captures three hens and makes it to safety. Through this fast-paced opening scene, Robinet efficiently propels readers into the novel.

Robinet establishes the swamp scenes immediately by using distinguishing wildlife and vegetation. Her scenes include owls, alligators, a swamp rooster and chickens, ducks, geese, and egrets, in addition to a poisonous cottonmouth snake, green lizards, and cave bats. The author also introduces an abundance of swamp vegetation: bald cypress trees; live oaks heavy with Spanish moss, ferns, bromeliads, and delicate...