Night Navigation opens on a freezing-rain night in upstate New York: the kindling gone, the fire in the woodstove out. Del's thirty-seven-year-old manic-depressive son needs a ride, but she's afraid to make the long drive north to the only detox that has a bed.

Through the four seasons, Night Navigation takes us into the deranged, darkly humorous world of the addict--from break-your-arm dealers, to boot-camp rehabs, to Rumi-quoting NA sponsors.  Al-Anon tells Del to "let go"; NAMI tells her to "hang on." Mark cannot find a way to live in this world. Del cannot stop trying to rescue him. And yet, during this long year's night, through relapse and despair, they see flare-ups of hope as Mark and Del fitfully, painfully try to steer toward the light.