A true tale extracted from rich ore of California history, featuring a child born to Gold Rush pioneers. Deborah Whitney is a tomboy, impulsive, a loner, and a challenge to her parents. She also has a strong sense of justice, which leads to protests against prejudice, bullying and ignorance in others, but, being human, she conveniently overlooks her own failings. It takes a series of unexpected – even frightening – events over the course of a summer to shake up her notions and challenge the girl to grow in understanding and compassion. Her independent spirit, untypical of girls of yesteryear, yields lessons for today.