Mary Shelley Black

Mary Shelley is a 16-year-old girl who is the protagonist of the story. Her deceased mother had named her after Mary Shelley, the author of the book "Frankenstein" because of her mother's love of electricity and science. Mary Shelley's mother had been a physician and Mary Shelley has inherited her interest in science and logic. Mary Shelley lived with her father, a grocery store owner in Portland, Oregon, until he was arrested for treason. The charges against him are that he helped men avoid the draft during World War I.

Mary Shelley is sent to San Diego to live with Aunt Eva, her mother's sister, after her father's imprisonment. Mary Shelley reunites with a boy, Stephen Embers, she knew from Portland who now lives on Coronado Island near San Diego.

When Stephen is killed in the war, Mary Shelley is approached by Stephen's half brother, Julius...