150 plus years after a major catastrophic climate event reduced the world's population by at least 95% Britain is still recovering but order had been largely restored and slow progress was being made towards full recovery. The country was divided into 17 Shires and although few roads existed outside major population centers rail links have been restored radiating out to each Shire from New London. Life was hard in the Shires so children were offered to New London Childless families as adoptees who by law had to return to a Shire of their choice on the New Years Day immediately preceding their sixteenth birthdays.
The story follows two such adoptees as they face the trial and tribulations as they grow to the point where they must leave their family, friends and their life as they have lived it since babyhood.