The novel unfolds the story of a feisty young woman named Ester who came from a rural life in Sweden and jumped into an exciting urban life in America. Ester left Sweden with a secret, as many immigrants did, but her secret didn't hinder her welcome into the vibrant life of Swedish immigrants in Chicago. She plunged into the prosperity of the Swedish community in 1908 with the same work ethic of her pioneer immigrant predecessors. She found friends who took her into their hearts and homes. They shared their happiness and struggles together. Her story comes alive within the everyday life of Chicago. What happened on its streets, how people lived, what entertainment and spiritual life they shared—all experienced through the eyes of a young Swedish immigrant woman.