The Madigans

An eleven‑year‑old girl named Cecilia—known as Sissy—has just penned a solemn list of promises she intends to keep throughout the coming month. Living in Virginia City, Nevada, at the turn of the twentieth century, she vows everything from topping her class to treating her temperamental sister with patience, all while wrestling with a fierce rivalry that feels almost holy to her. Her earnest self‑assessment offers a vivid glimpse of childhood ambition, family expectations, and the quirky rituals of a bustling household.

The story quickly turns to a tense, yet oddly comic, encounter with her sister Irene, nicknamed “Split.” When Sissy asks Irene to button her dress, the simple act spirals into a battle of wills, full of teasing insults, sly tricks, and a surprising burst of childish cruelty. Through this charged moment, the narrative captures the delicate dance of sisterly love and antagonism, setting the stage for Sissy’s struggle to keep her promises while navigating the inevitable messiness of growing up.