Annabelle lived a quiet pleasant life in her little valley during the war. That is until Betty Glengarry came to live with her grandparents. Annabelle didn't know Betty's life story but it must have been a bad one because Betty was mean. Betty started threatening Annabelle if she didn't do what Betty wanted. When the town hermit intervened to protect Annabelle from Betty, things went from bad to worse.

This was a very good book about how life events change people, how first impressions are often wrong and can have devastating effects and good and bad aren't always clearly defined.

This book is a Truman Award nominee for Missouri and a Newbery Honor book.