In the second book of the trilogy, Emily Byrd Starr longs to attend Queen's Academy to earn her teaching license, but her tradition-bound relatives at New Moon refuse. She is instead offered the chance to go to Shrewsbury High School with her friends, but there are two conditions: first, she must live with the aunt she dislikes, and second, she must not write for the duration of her high-school education. At first, Emily refuses the offer, unable to contemplate a life without writing, but then her cousin changes the condition slightly, amending it to just a restriction concerning writing fiction. Emily does not think this is much of an improvement, but it turns out to be an excellent exercise for her budding writing career. In fact, Emily ends up having some of her poems published, and she begins writing for the town newspaper. Soon, Emily is offered a fabulous opportunity, but accepting it would mean changing her life forever...