Commanding, emotionally generous, and often very funny, The Petty Details of So-and-so's Life tells the story of Emma and Blue Taylor, who, despite an almost telepathic connection, respond to the sudden disappearance of their explosive father in remarkably different ways. Emma sets off in pursuit of a new family, and finds belonging in the most unexpected of places, while burly, tattoo-stamped Blue, haunted by the brutal, disparaging voice of their father, embarks on a cross-country search fore the elusive parent. Emma and Blue share an intimate connection, but as they grow they discover the limits of the language they once shared and learn that it is possible to love without ever truly understanding the other.