Hope Dubose grows up in a small southern town called Stewartville, Mississippi. Her father deserted Hope's sister and six-month pregnant mother leaving the three to struggle to survive. Hope excels academically and holds dear to her an old ragged coat she was forced to wear. She wants to escape all memories of Stewartville and the people there but she takes the ragged coat with her and soon a son is born who will forever tie her to Stewartville's most powerful and richest family.