The Ginger Jar is a story of coming of age and love, of family ties and tensions.

Although the ginger jar is broken in Cairo, its story began in Vancouver. Kit is taken by her older cousin, Charles Gilbert, to lunch in Vancouver's Chinatown. There Charles, after telling her he plans to take off for China when the coming summer is over, buys her the ginger jar. Of all the family, they have the most in common. Charles finds Kit, like himself, intuitive and creative. 

That summer of 1929, the families set up camp at Cedar Cove. There with her family, with Charles around, and her favourite cousin Greta, Kit is restless.

From the time Jimmy Millar, a young science student, and a beauty called Pat, join the weekends at the beach, the circle of Kit's life seems different. Drama explodes at Cedar Cove when Greta is seduced and Pat chooses Charles Gilbert.

After the Depression, happily engaged to Jimmy Millar, Kit envisions a wonderful future of travel. But Jimmy asks her to postpone their wedding. Kit accepts a summer job on Vancouver Island. In this idyllic place Kit is made welcome and  makes new friends. Charles, now established with his wife, Pat, and their baby son, visits her at the lake. Their closeness develops into passion.

Again, a summer ends in drama. Charles takes his son and goes into hiding;  Kit is torn between Charles and Jimmy and her love for them both. Sailing back to the safety of her home, Kit is suddenly confronted by Pat Gilbert, who is waiting for her on the ferry. There is no escape. Kit is no longer the innocent and trusting girl she was. So it is here the ginger jar takes over again and ends the story.