Sybylla Melvin is a misfit. She barely endures the dreary life of dairy farming in a family that can hardly make ends meet. Out of the blue, she is invited to move back to the family property, Caddagat, to live with Grannie, Aunt Helen, and Uncle Jay Jay. With a cast of interesting neighbors and friends, Sybylla finally seems to discover hope in the world. She is nourished by thoughtful conversation, books, and music. Harold Beecham's love, however, throws her into indecision and painful tension. Will she be satisfied with following the well-trodden path of marriage - a path she perceives as demeaning and restrictive? And when she is abruptly sent away from Caddagat to help pay family debts, her "brilliant career" takes a disruptive turn.

This coming-of-age story, set in the Australian bush and originally published in 1901, is prefaced by an introduction from iconic Australian poet, Henry Lawson. The novel was written by Stella Miles Franklin when she was only a teenager. Franklin became a significant figure and patron of Australian literature through her involvement in the Australian literary scene in the 20th century. This impact continues today through the famous annual literary prize, the Miles Franklin award.