Thirteen-year-old Catherine Cabot Hall put ink to the first unblemished page of her diary on October 17, 1830, the day after her father returned from Boston with the diary tucked conspicuously under his arm. Catherine's mother had died of fever four years before, and now Catherine performed the duties of housewife and mother, living contentedly with her father and younger sister, Matty, on their New Hampshire farm. In spite of the daily hardships, Catherine had much to be thankful for, especially for Cassie, her dearest friend. But when Catherine received a disturbing note from a stranger, she wasn't sure what she should do or who she should tell. Only her diary knew the anguish in her heart. Would her secret drive a wedge in her friendship with Cassie or bind them together forever?