Linda Morgana has taken care of her brothers and sisters for as long as she can remember. She is the perfect daughter at all times, though having a job, managing six siblings, and avoiding another heartbreak has taken its toll. When young Nina gets the opportunity of a lifetime—to perform at the Pan-American Exposition—Linda knows she'll be in charge of making sure the younger ones behave.

Thomas Reid, better known by the boys back home as Tommy Rabbit, is a former newsboy who's arrived in Buffalo to hear President McKinley speak at the World's Fair. Or, more accurately, to plead with him on behalf of newsies everywhere, feeling that there was more work to be done after the compromise made by Pulitzer and Hearst with the newsboy union. Unfortunately, he's also absolutely terrified of speaking to someone so important.

Then Linda gets herself in trouble and separated from her family, and it's Tommy Rabbit to the rescue. Can Tommy get Linda back to her family, and can she learn to live for herself?