Aubrey Swann catapults onto the concert stage at age four and becomes the world's musical darling. Years later the transition to mature artist requires Aubrey to composes his own survival.

The novel follows a piano prodigy from his concert debut at age four through his harrowing attempts to become a mature artist. The time frame, 1938 to the 1950s, includes vignettes of life during WWII. How does life history shape the creative process? How does art shape an artist? Baldino explores age-old questions from a child's point of view.