Times are hard in 1960's Wallsend, North Tyneside. Cola miner Fred Slater has lost his wife to cancer, leaving him to raise his 10-year-old son Tom and teenage daughter Betsy. Keeping a promise to her dying mother, to look after her brother and dad, Betsy has to grow up quickly... starting with her first job. Taken under the wing of her first boss, Betsy learns to juggle workplace challenges and household chores. With a charming naivety, she struggles with family commitments and her emotions, especially with that of her first love - Sam. But is Betsy brave enough to take risks and move on in her life...? This heart-warming and engaging tale, beautifully capturing the lives of down-to-earth folk, is quite simply a joy to read!