The Trouble Up North Summary, Characters and Themes
The Trouble Up North by Travis Mulhauser is an exploration of family, legacy, and the forces of change. Set in Northern Michigan in the mid-2000s, the story revolves around Rhoda Sawbrook and her complex relationships with her children—Jewell, Lucy, and Buckner—against the backdrop of a dying family legacy and a landscape threatened by development.
The Sawbrook family is bound by secrets, violence, and a deep connection to the land, which becomes both a symbol of their history and the burden they cannot escape. Themes of loyalty, betrayal, survival, and the inevitable passage of time are woven throughout the narrative.
Summary
The story begins in Northern Michigan with Rhoda Sawbrook sitting on her porch with her husband, Edward, who is battling lung cancer. They discuss their daughter Jewell’s involvement in a dangerous plan to set fire to a wealthy resorter’s boat for an insurance scam.
Jewell, a poker player, had been enticed into the plan by Van Hargraves, a wealthy man who had promised her money in exchange for committing the crime. Although Rhoda is deeply concerned, she knows her daughter is already committed to the job.
Edward, though worried, seems resigned, and the conversation reveals a deep undercurrent of tension within the family.
Jewell’s involvement with Van Hargraves began during her time in Las Vegas, where she hoped to improve her financial situation but ended up disappointed. Van, who is desperate for money, offers Jewell a thousand dollars upfront with the promise of more once the job is done.
While Jewell is hesitant about the moral implications of the act, the large sum of money offered to her is tempting. She agrees to set the boat on fire, intending to do it quietly and without leaving any trace.
Rhoda, while practical and protective, has her own complicated past. She shares a long-buried secret with Jewell—when she was younger, she once set a car on fire in a jealous rage over a man.
This revelation offers a glimpse into the Sawbrook family’s history, marked by a legacy of both legal and illegal enterprises. The Sawbrooks have always had a connection to the land and the river, which has been a central part of their identity.
They have fought to preserve this land from development, but change is inevitable.
The family is further divided by the tensions between Jewell and her siblings. Jewell’s estranged sister, Lucy, has distanced herself from the Sawbrooks, having sold the family land to a conservation group.
Rhoda is bitter about Lucy’s betrayal, and Jewell is torn between her loyalty to her family and the need to secure her financial future. This family rift sets the stage for much of the conflict throughout the novel.
As Jewell prepares to set the boat on fire, she reflects on her own identity and the choices she has made. The act of arson, while seemingly straightforward, is complicated by the complicated relationships and loyalties within her family.
Rhoda and Jewell’s conversation about their family history underscores the deep-rooted nature of the Sawbrooks’ legacy, which includes both resilience and destructive tendencies.
Lucy, now a park ranger, struggles with her career and the fallout from her family’s decisions. She has been sent back to her hometown park after spending a year in Lansing, working in an office job.
While she has the opportunity to establish the Friends of the Crow initiative and work on conservation efforts, this work brings her into direct conflict with her mother, Rhoda. Rhoda resents Lucy’s efforts to restore the land, particularly since they interfere with her memories of the land and its history.
As Lucy tries to find her place within the family and her career, her brother Buckner’s destructive behavior adds another layer of tension. Buckner is an alcoholic and often causes chaos in the family.
A confrontation between Buckner and Ray Tomshaw at the park forces Lucy to confront her own feelings of resentment and anger toward her brother. During the altercation, Lucy is forced to use a taser to subdue Buckner, an action that leaves her emotionally conflicted about her relationship with him.
Meanwhile, Jewell’s past becomes even more complicated when she reveals that Van Hargraves, the man connected to the fire, had committed suicide before the boat was set on fire. This revelation casts doubt on the intentions behind the act, making it appear more like a tragic accident than a premeditated crime.
Despite the circumstances, Lucy’s resentment toward her sister grows as she learns that Jewell had sold her stake in the family land to fund a gambling scheme in Las Vegas, only to lose it all.
As the family drama intensifies, Lucy and Jewell’s strained relationship comes to a head. The two sisters continue to navigate their differences as they confront the fire and its aftermath.
The conflict with the police and the consequences of their actions force them to reckon with their fractured family dynamic. The family’s connection to the land becomes increasingly important as they struggle to maintain control over their heritage.
In the final stages of the novel, Rhoda’s decision to take the blame for the chaos they have caused reflects her deep love for her children, despite the damage they have inflicted upon themselves. The Sawbrook family’s legacy—marked by both pride and shame—remains a central theme as they try to find a sense of peace amid the turmoil.
Rhoda’s death represents the culmination of her relentless pursuit of survival, and her children are left to pick up the pieces of their fractured family.
Jewell, Lucy, and Buckner each begin to find a sense of peace in their own ways. Jewell finds comfort in her relationship with Sky, an ally she meets during the turmoil, while Buckner attempts to rebuild his life with his family.
Lucy, despite the scars she carries from her fractured relationships and her personal struggles, starts to regain some sense of control over her life and career. The novel ends on a bittersweet note, reflecting on the passage of time and the relationships that endure despite the pain.
Through its exploration of the Sawbrook family’s tumultuous relationships, The Trouble Up North sheds light on themes of survival, identity, family, and the legacy of the past. The land, once a symbol of pride and heritage, becomes a battleground for the family’s future, as they are forced to confront their choices and the inevitable changes that come with time.
Characters
Rhoda Sawbrook
Rhoda Sawbrook is a pivotal character in The Trouble Up North, embodying the harsh realities of family loyalty, survival, and personal sacrifice. As a mother, she is deeply protective, pragmatic, and burdened by the weight of her family’s legacy.
Her history with the land, marked by both pride and destruction, shapes her decisions throughout the narrative. Rhoda’s no-nonsense attitude and tough exterior mask the emotional toll her life has taken, particularly as she struggles with the consequences of her children’s actions.
She has long been a symbol of resilience, although this is often entwined with her own questionable choices, such as her willingness to cover up the family’s mistakes and her active role in perpetuating their troubled past. Rhoda’s interactions with her children reveal a complex, sometimes painful love that extends even to her daughter Jewell, despite her reckless behavior, and her son Buckner, whose violent tendencies complicate their relationship.
Rhoda’s own troubled past, including her secret of setting a car on fire in a fit of jealousy, provides insight into her deep-seated frustration and the fierce survival instinct that drives her. Ultimately, Rhoda’s character is defined by a legacy of secrecy, survival, and a bittersweet attempt to keep her family together despite the profound damage they’ve inflicted upon one another.
Jewell Sawbrook
Jewell Sawbrook is a character torn between financial desperation and family loyalty, and her actions throughout The Trouble Up North reflect her inner turmoil and deep sense of conflict. A poker player with a past shaped by her brief stint in Las Vegas, Jewell’s choices are often driven by a need for financial stability, even if it means crossing moral lines.
Her involvement in the arson scheme orchestrated by Van Hargraves places her in direct conflict with the values instilled in her by her mother, Rhoda. Despite her complicity in the crime, Jewell is far from a villain—she is a woman struggling with her own sense of identity and the overwhelming pressure to escape her circumstances.
As the story progresses, Jewell’s relationships with her family become strained, particularly with her estranged sister Lucy, whose sense of betrayal is deepened by Jewell’s gambling problems. In a moment of emotional honesty, Jewell reveals a shocking truth about Van’s suicide before the arson took place, further unraveling the layers of deceit she has woven.
Jewell’s character highlights the tension between family loyalty and personal survival, as she grapples with the consequences of her actions and attempts to reconcile her past with the present. Ultimately, her journey is one of redemption, seeking solace in a relationship with Sky, and a painful attempt to make amends for the harm she has caused.
Lucy Sawbrook
Lucy Sawbrook is the embodiment of a woman caught between the pursuit of her professional ideals and the complicated demands of family duty. As a park ranger and conservationist, Lucy’s personal values are in direct conflict with her family’s deep connection to the land—especially her mother Rhoda’s attachment to their property, which has become a symbol of both pride and dysfunction.
Lucy’s return to her hometown marks the beginning of an ongoing struggle to balance her professional aspirations, her desire to make a positive impact on the environment, and the tense, often strained relationship with her mother. The tension between them escalates as Lucy’s conservation efforts, such as planting native grasses and promoting sustainable practices, challenge Rhoda’s traditional views on the land.
This friction leads to a painful estrangement, and Lucy’s return to the park, fraught with personal baggage, forces her to confront her own emotions surrounding family, duty, and the burden of their collective history. Lucy’s emotional journey deepens when she is forced to confront the volatile actions of her brother Buckner, whose alcoholism and violent behavior contribute to the family’s dysfunction.
As a character, Lucy is a complex mixture of professionalism, guilt, and a longing for peace, trying to navigate the fractured ties to her past while attempting to carve out her own sense of purpose. Ultimately, her story is one of self-discovery, as she comes to terms with the weight of her family’s legacy and the sacrifices she must make to preserve both her sense of identity and her commitment to the land.
Buckner Sawbrook
Buckner Sawbrook, a character marked by his deep struggles with alcoholism and violence, represents the chaotic undercurrent of the Sawbrook family. His erratic behavior and destructive tendencies serve as a foil to his more grounded siblings, especially Lucy and Jewell, who both try to shield themselves from his influence.
Buckner’s relationship with his family is marked by bitterness and resentment, particularly with Lucy, whose efforts to maintain peace within the family only seem to highlight his volatility. His confrontations with Ray Tomshaw and his eventual involvement in a standoff with his sister Lucy reveal the extent of his emotional turmoil.
Despite his outbursts, Buckner is not without moments of vulnerability, as his violent actions are often driven by a deep-seated pain and a sense of helplessness in the face of his own failings. His struggle with alcoholism only exacerbates his feelings of inadequacy and alienation, making it difficult for him to reconcile with his past or find a path forward.
However, there are hints of hope in his relationship with Sky, a dancer who provides a glimmer of emotional connection for him. Buckner’s character arc is one of painful self-realization, as he navigates his complicated past and seeks redemption, however fleeting, in the midst of a family that seems to be slowly falling apart.
Sky
Sky is a relatively minor yet symbolically significant character in The Trouble Up North. As a dancer and Buckner’s romantic interest, Sky offers a brief but poignant glimpse into the ways that relationships can serve as both an escape and a source of healing.
Her involvement with Buckner provides him with a momentary sense of emotional reprieve, though their relationship is fraught with complications. Sky’s past, marked by abuse and emotional scars, mirrors the struggles of the Sawbrook family in many ways, and her presence in Buckner’s life symbolizes the possibility of redemption even amidst turmoil.
Though her role in the larger narrative is secondary, Sky’s connection to Buckner offers him an opportunity to break free from his destructive patterns and provides him with a sense of solace he has been desperately searching for.
Themes
Family Legacy and Heritage
The Sawbrook family’s relationship with their land is deeply entwined with their identity and the choices they make. The family’s history is riddled with both legal and illegal activities, including bootlegging and smuggling, and the land they occupy has been the constant backdrop to their lives, embodying a legacy passed down through generations.
This legacy, however, is not just one of pride and tradition, but also of trauma, violence, and secrecy. The Sawbrooks’ connection to the land and their history is marked by a struggle for survival, as the family finds itself caught between their past and the present’s inevitable changes.
For Rhoda, this land is an anchor, a symbol of both their survival and their entrapment. She works hard to preserve it, even as her children rebel or fail to understand its importance.
The tension between family members, especially between Rhoda and Lucy, who works as a park ranger, highlights the differing views of what the land represents. While Rhoda sees it as a way of life to be defended, Lucy’s environmental efforts seem to challenge those very traditions, pushing the boundaries of family loyalty and personal values.
As the family deals with personal betrayals, like Jewell selling her stake in the family land, they must confront the darker aspects of their heritage, forcing them to question their place in a world that is rapidly changing.
Family Conflict and Dysfunction
The Sawbrook family is deeply fractured, with tensions running high between its members. Rhoda’s relationship with her children, particularly Lucy and Jewell, is fraught with unresolved anger, resentment, and bitterness.
Rhoda’s pragmatic and often harsh nature fuels a rift with Lucy, who is trying to establish her own identity through her work in conservation. Rhoda resents her daughter’s involvement in preserving the land, seeing it as a threat to the family’s history and her own memories of the land’s significance.
This deep-seated conflict extends to Jewell, who feels torn between her loyalty to her mother and her own desperate need to escape her financial troubles. The family’s dysfunction is further complicated by the involvement of Buckner, whose alcoholism and violent behavior add another layer of chaos to an already volatile dynamic.
This web of conflict and dysfunction underscores the complexity of familial love, loyalty, and the challenges of navigating personal identity within a fractured family. The relationship between Rhoda and her children is not just marked by love, but also by the ghosts of the past—decisions and actions that have shaped their lives and left them grappling with the consequences.
Identity and Self-Discovery
Jewell, Lucy, and Rhoda are all on journeys of self-discovery, navigating the difficult terrain of family expectations, personal desires, and the weight of past actions. For Jewell, her identity is shaped by the choices she makes to secure her financial future, even if it means compromising her values.
Her involvement in the arson scheme, and later her gambling losses, show a woman struggling to find stability while also seeking freedom from her family’s history. Lucy, on the other hand, is caught between her responsibilities as a park ranger and her strained relationship with her family.
Her work to preserve the land contrasts with her mother’s view, and she is forced to reconcile her personal beliefs with her familial obligations. Her journey is also marked by her struggles with her brother Buckner and her own emotional scars from growing up in a dysfunctional family.
Rhoda’s identity is intertwined with the legacy of her family, and as she reflects on her own past actions, including her previous involvement in arson, she grapples with the role she has played in perpetuating the family’s struggles. Each character is forced to confront their past, deal with their personal demons, and ultimately make choices that define who they are and where they stand in relation to their family and the land they inhabit.
Betrayal and Loyalty
Betrayal and loyalty are key themes that permeate the story, especially within the Sawbrook family. Rhoda’s relationship with her children is riddled with a sense of betrayal, particularly when Lucy sells the family land.
This action is seen as a deep betrayal by Rhoda, who has always fought to protect the family’s connection to the land. Jewell, too, faces her own form of betrayal, as she navigates the promise of financial gain through the arson scheme and later through her gambling losses.
Despite her missteps, Jewell is still bound by a sense of loyalty to her family, especially to her mother, which is reflected in her attempts to cover up the consequences of her actions. This theme is also explored through Lucy’s relationship with her brother, Buckner, whose destructive behavior and alcoholism have strained their bond.
Despite her anger and resentment toward him, Lucy is still drawn into his chaos, demonstrating the complexity of sibling loyalty. The conflict between loyalty to family and personal morals is a central struggle for the characters, as they face the consequences of their actions while trying to protect those they love.
Change and the Passage of Time
The inevitability of change is a constant undercurrent in the narrative. The Sawbrook family, once firmly rooted in their land and their traditions, is faced with the encroaching forces of development and the changing times.
The resort’s expansion symbolizes the transformation of the environment and the family’s way of life. This external change is mirrored by the internal shifts within the family, as each member grapples with their own personal evolution.
Rhoda’s death marks the end of an era, signifying the passing of a generation that clung to the old ways of survival and legacy. Yet, even in the face of such profound change, the family begins to rebuild.
Jewell finds some peace with Sky, and Buckner begins a new chapter, illustrating that, despite the tumult and tragedy, the family is slowly moving forward. The land, while once a symbol of the Sawbrooks’ entrapment, also serves as a symbol of resilience, as the family learns to adapt to new circumstances and redefine their connection to both the past and the future.
The passage of time is not just about loss, but also about the possibility of renewal and the complex process of coming to terms with the consequences of one’s actions.
Guilt and Redemption
Guilt runs deep throughout the narrative, as each character is forced to contend with their past decisions and actions. Jewell is burdened by her involvement in the fire and the subsequent lies she has told to cover up her role.
Her guilt is compounded by her financial troubles and the devastating consequences of her gambling. Similarly, Lucy is haunted by the fractured relationship with her family, particularly with her brother Buckner, and her sense of duty as a park ranger conflicts with her feelings toward her family’s destruction of the land.
Rhoda, too, carries the weight of guilt, not only for the mistakes she has made in the past, such as her own involvement in setting a car on fire, but also for the way her children have turned out. Yet, despite this guilt, there is a sense of redemption that slowly emerges, especially as the family begins to rebuild and find some form of peace with their past.
Rhoda’s death, though tragic, is also a release—a final act of survival and self-sacrifice that allows her children to reconcile with the choices they have made. The theme of guilt and redemption underscores the complex emotional journeys of the characters, illustrating that while the past cannot be erased, there is always the potential for healing and forgiveness, even in the most difficult of circumstances.