Following her recovery Katy and her sister Clover are sent to boarding school for a year with their cousin Lilly Page. In their year the girls make friends with fellow boarders. Despite getting into scrapes, Katy is a positive influence on the younger girls and they in turn help Katy reclaim some of her lost youthfulness that her long illness robbed her of.

this novel reintroduces the Carr family and the widow Mrs. Ashe. Mrs. Ashe has her nephew, Walter, over for a visit and it is discovered that he has scarlet fever. Anxious that her only daughter Amy should not contract the disease, Amy is sent to live with the Carrs where she builds up a particular rapport with the eldest daughter Katy. Following Walter's recovery, Mrs. Ashe decides that she should have a vacation to Europe and asks that Katy be her travel companion. Initially reluctant due to familial obligations, Katy is persuaded by her father to go and is given $300 for the trip.

Whilst visiting Colorado to nurse her brother, Clover falls in love with the country and does not want to return home. When she meets and falls in love with Geoff, she may have found the answer to her problem.

"A Little Country Girl" from Susan Coolidge. American children's author (1835-1905).

"A Round Dozen" from Susan Coolidge. American children's author (1835-1905).

"Clover" from Susan Coolidge. American children's author (1835-1905).

"Eyebright" from Susan Coolidge. American children's author (1835-1905).

"In the High Valley" from Susan Coolidge. American children's author (1835-1905).

"Just Sixteen" from Susan Coolidge. American children's author (1835-1905).

"Nine Little Goslings" from Susan Coolidge. American children's author (1835-1905).