Entranced by the Dewey Decimal System, Odile Souchet is both excited and nervous for her interview at the American Library in Paris. The interview with Miss Reeder, the Directress, begins well, but Odile falters when asked her reasons for wanting to work at the Library. Odile leaves the interview dejected, but Library patrons lift her spirits: Professor Cohen, a female professor at the Sorbonne, and Mr. Pryce-Jones, a retired English diplomat, encourage her not to give up and to write a thank you note to the Directress that explains why she wants to work there. Odile follows their advice. She considers this Library to be her home.

Growing up in the small town of Froid, Montana, where everyone knows one another, Lily is intrigued by her neighbor, Mrs. Odile Gustafson. Originally from France, Odile is considered an outsider despite having lived in Froid since 1945. Lily is an excellent student and has a good friend, Mary Louise, but is bullied by the popular Tiffany at school. Choosing to do a report on France, Lily finds an excuse to interview Odile. The interview takes place at Lily’s house with her mother present, but Lily first went to Odile’s house and was astounded at the number of books there.