A Good American is a story of immigrant hope. Set in a fictional Midwestern town and spanning more than a century, the novel tells the story of three generations of the Meisenheimer family. Beginning with an improbable love affair ignited by the power of song, the story follows an unorthodox young couple as they flee to America in search of a new life together. From prohibition to the Kennedy assassination, the family is caught up in the sweep of history as they find their place in America.