A Death in the Family tells the story of a little boy, Rufus, and his family as they cope with the death of Rufus' father Jay in a car accident. When Jay never returns from what was supposed to be a short trip, his wife Mary waits anxiously for news and is joined by several members of her family when she learns of Jay's, including her parents, brother, and aunt as they all try to process his death. Not fully understanding his relatives' anger or musings on religion, Rufus struggles to comprehend what has happened and adjust to his new life.