Tess, a middle child, and the only one born in Kilsyth, Ontario, Canada, tells her story with candor, humor, and tenderness. In 1917, her widowed Mother forged the strong bond by which Tess and her family lived, when she stood up to her own parents and also the Canadian Court System in order to keep and raise her children. Tess remained a constant part of the hard work, determination and deep faith that carried the family and kept them together. Then, at seventeen, her life took a dramatic turn when the world wide depression struck in 1929 and the decision was made that the family must leave Sarnia, Ontario, Canada and move to Detroit, Michigan in the United States, where they hoped job opportunities would be better.