Effects of the Past

Some events have lasting effects on the future, and the characters of this novel are living with the long-term effects of slavery and a Civil War.

This novel is set in 1884 in a fictionalized version of New Orleans. In this version of the world, the war between the Confederacy and Union went on for eight years, coming to a halt only through a truce that divided the country without a resolution. The Southern states still have slaves, and the threat of war continues to loom over the nation. Other countries have been involved in various levels. A 13-year-old named Jacqueline, better known as Creeper, is very aware that the war could resume at any time. She notes that the people of New Orleans use any opportunity to celebrate because they are aware of the tenuous situation. In this case, the past has changed...