In a society that confines women to traditional roles, twenty-year-old Gertrude Foster yearns for more than what is expected of her. Raised in privilege, she grapples with the oppressive norms that dictate her future, refusing to settle for a marriage that denies her true equality. When she encounters the harsh realities of poverty in her community, her worldview is shattered, especially as she learns of disturbing age of consent laws being debated in the state assembly. Her growing friendship with two working-class girls compels her to confront the injustices around her and sparks a journey of self-discovery and activism. - Summary by Scarbo