Summary of Anne Tyler's A Spool of Blue Thread is the poignant story of four generations of the Whitshank family living in Baltimore. They are an ordinary family like any other, but they are also special in their own quirky ways. The members of the family love and care for each other, but they also harbor jealousies, rivalries, and carry secrets.

Red Whitshank runs the family business, Whitshank Construction. His wife, Abby, is a social worker, and they are the parents of four children. Their third child, Denny, is a frequent source of worry for them. Over the years he is in and out of trouble, holds various jobs, and is in numerous unsuccessful relationships. His visits and phone calls are sporadic.

There are two stories in the Whitshank family that are often repeated. The first is the story of Junior Whitshank, Red’s father and the founder of Whitshank Construction…