When Ann Fay Honeycutt's father is sent off to war, this thirteen year old girls throws on a pair of overalls and is now the 'man of the house'. She is in charge of taking care of the large vegetable garden and watching out for her little sisters and brother. It's a lot of work for one girl but she is managing, that is until a polio epidemic hits close to home. As the challenges grow, Ann's resourcefulness and toughness grow as well.