After Mary Howard and her sisters are left without parents in America, they are put up for adoption. Mary's pretty sister, Ella was adopted right away by a very wealthy family, while Mary was left with her baby sister Alice to fend for themselves in the poorhouse. Throughout this book, Mary encounters and overcomes numerous obstacles related to her poverty, (and a couple of love interests...) but through it all her loving personality shines bright. - Summary by ShrimpPhish
