In Uncertain Glory, the main character is a 13 year-old boy named Joe Wood. Joe is a boy who owns his own newspaper printing shop during the Civil War. Charlie, Joe's best friend, helps him in the shop, but Joe is scared because if he doesn't pay back Mr. Allen, he will take all his printing machines back that he loaned Joe. Joe is really scared that he won't be able to pay his debt for them, so he works super hard. He also meets and becomes friends with a girl named Nell, and she can communicate with spirits.
