Thistles is a book about aspirations and dreams. It is about simple people living close to the earth. But the Franklins of Kentucky are a family buffeted by ill winds and misfortune. They struggle against the anguish of lost chances and the vagaries of their lives. Fate will lead them into a series of personal crises in one short week. Their story will culminate in a drama that familial love and concern cannot predict and will play out to an unexpected and startling conclusion.