Ida's mother has died, leaving her in the charge of her beloved Fa - only it seems like Ida's the one who does most of the caring. When Fa decides to travel to the Klondike in search of gold, leaving Ida in the care of her Grandmama, Ida knows she must find a way to go with him. The sights and sounds of the journey and the hardships that face will push them to the very limit of human endurance - and change them forever.