The Peppers are poor, and Mamsie must work constantly to keep the wolf from the door, but their lives are unexpectedly happy. They make do with whatever they have and the older children help the younger ones. They bear bad times as best they can and make the most of the good times. Polly has lost track of little Phronsie, whom she was supposed to be watching -- and now she and Jasper run into old Mr. Selwyn in the library of the steamer ship bound overseas to England. He seems very ill And who is this boy who seems so cruel to the sick old man? And what about this stuck-up girl Fanny Vanderburgh, who thinks the old man is much too common? People come all shapes and sizes -- and the Five Little Peppers meet every sort imaginable, while finding adventures, new friends, and even a few dangers. And how delighted they will be, seeing how things turn out -- almost topsy-turvy, for the odd little group that includes the oh-so-common Mr. Selwyn and those haughtily proud Vanderburghs