Emma Morrison and a child leave the east coast to seek a safe place and find many guardian angels along their travels. She was drawn to a town in Northwest Missouri, Hill Brook, because of a friendly town sign that she spots by the train tracks. Whirligigs were spinning all around. Emma remembered reading a book in an eighth-grade class about Whirligigs and how she always thought they were charming. Then, the propellers caught the wind and made something on the Whirligig move. It was a strange way to pick a town to live in while escaping a severe problem. She had second doubts about running away, but fear kept her looking for answers.

Mike Williams, a foreign correspondent for a cable news network, returns to his hometown of Hill Brook, a heartsick and broken man. Although not a soldier, he appears to be suffering from PTSD from a tragedy in Afghanistan. His dark journey conflicts with Emma's secretive problems, but through the love of the town's generous people, they both see hope.

Although their first meeting was complicated and confusing, the two shared a house for a few weeks, both working through events that had changed their lives forever. Emma connects with the friendly town members, while Michael stays by himself, ignoring his problems. However, the presence of a toddler seems to crack Michael's demeanor and helps him come out of his shell.

Emma feels that creating a whirligig can be therapeutic, and she rereads a book by Paul Fleischman about how building whirligigs change a young man's life. Whirligigs are quirky, clever gadgets and usually move in rhythm to the speed of the wind. The process of making a whirligig can be therapeutic by cutting wood, sanding, painting, and assembling the project. The community in the small town helps both Emma and Michael to face their issues squarely.