The American writer Suzanne Kamata had lived in Japan for more than half of her life. And yet, she had never explored the small nearby islands of the Inland Sea. First made famous by Donald Richie's The Inland Sea fifty years ago, these small isles display artwork created by prominent, and sometimes peculiar, artists and sculptors: Yayoi Kusama's polka-dot pumpkins, Kazuo Katase's blue teacup, and a monster rising out of a well on the hour called "Anger at the Bottom"--To name a few. Spurred by her teen-aged daughter Lilia's interest in art and adventure, Kamata sets out to show her the islands' treasures. But mother and daughter must confront significant barriers. Lilia is deaf and uses a wheelchair. It is not always easy to get onto -- or off of -- the islands. And then there are the challenges of language, culture, and a generation gap.