The novel Zorrie by the writer Laird Hunt is set in 20th century America. Zorrie Underwood is the protagonist of the novel, who experiences several tragedies in her youth, from being orphaned to becoming homeless after her aunt's death. Zorrie Underwood continues living in Indiana, but because of her aunt's death, she leaves her hometown. She decides to go to Illinois to find some work but Zorrie's hardship doubles because of the Great Depression of 1930.
After searching tirelessly, she finds a job at the radium dial company, where she meets with two girls and becomes life-long friends with them. Zorrie and her friends are known as ghost girls because of their yellowish teeth because of the radioactive substance they use for painting the dial at work. Moreover, the factory workers think the radioactive substance is salubrious.
As the days pass, Zorrie longs for her hometown and eventually returns to Indiana even though her friends disagree. Zorrie returns to Indiana and finds a place to work, where her employer, an elderly couple, offers her accommodation also. Zorrie meets Harold, the owner's son, and they both fall in love with each other. After getting married to Harold, Zorrie experiences a blissful life. Harold and Zorrie work together and take care of their farm and livestock. Zorrie, living a content life, finds out she's pregnant, but unfortunately, she loses her baby.
