Meet Carolina Sapphira Stuart, an intelligent and caring girl traversing the path from childhood to adolescence and beyond in early nineteenth-century New Jersey. Amongst her large and loving family she begins to define who she is as she accepts increasing responsibility and its accompanying challenges. Richly detailed and evocative of an earlier, more innocent era, see the past come alive through the eyes of this observant, introspective character. 'A Lot to Build Upon' reminds us of the journey so short in years yet so far in maturity between child and young adult.