With her family in financial difficulties, Rebecca is sent to live with her two strict, unfeeling aunts, who do not appreciate the young girl's charm and energy. Rebecca must make new friends and adjust to surroundings that are sometimes difficult. But she still finds time to think of numerous ways to help others in her new hometown.—Snow Leopard

Rebecca Randall and her large family of brothers and sisters live at Sunnybrook Farm, which is principally remarkable for the size of the mortgage it carries. The task of taking care of all the children is too much for Mrs. Randall, so finally Rebecca is sent away to her two aunts, Miranda and Jane Sawyer, who are strict New England folk. She agrees to sell soap in aid of a fund to buy a banquet lamp for Rev. Smellie. Rebecca meets young Adam Ladd, and much to her astonishment, he purchases enough soap to pay for the banquet lamp. When Rebecca tells him about Mrs. Simpson and her lack of a wedding ring, Adam reaches into his pocket, brings forth his mother's wedding ring and gives it to Rebecca to present to Mrs. Simpson. Owing to his bounty, Rebecca thinks that Mr. Ladd is Mr. Aladdin, the hero of the wonderful lamp. With the children of the village, Rebecca gets up a circus in which she is the bare-back rider, but is routed by Aunt Miranda just as she is doing her most daring stunt. Rebecca is sent to school, but by her clever verse disgraces the aunt's family, so they decide to send her to boarding school. She returns a beautiful young girl. Adam's admiration for her has greatly increased, and the fondness for the child has grown into love for the young woman. One of the aunts passes away, and later Rebecca learns that the railroad has purchased Sunnybrook Farm. Rebecca has the Simpson family taken care of and all the Randall children well provided for. When everyone else is happy, Adam Ladd reminds her that when a little girl she had told him she intended to marry him when she grew up.