New Moon is on tender hooks after Aunt Isabel Murray arrives to 'take over'. Emily is horrified when Isabel tells her sher will no longer be allowed to attend school and that in place of it she will have to earn money. Next she tells Cousin Jimmy to kill one of his own cows for food and takes the household keys off Laura.

As Emily and Ilse continue to grow older, the adults are faced with some questions that the girls will stop at nothing to get answers for: The facts of life. Meanwhile, Ilse's father, Dr Burnley has accepted a position at Massachusetts' General Hospital. Not wanting to leave, Ilse and Emily plan to run away only to have Uncle Malcolm ruin it by getting ill to the point he is close to death. Dr Burnley saves the day and begins to redeem himself in the eyes of Blair Water residents.