This is a unique story about Elnora Comstock who lives a reclusive life with her mother in the woody swamps of Indiana called the Limberlost. Elnora longs to go to school like the city children, but hasn't enough money. One day she discovers that a hobby she has cultivated all her life, collecting moth and other insect specimens from the swamps near her home, can actually finance the education she longs for. Helped by the Bird Woman and various other colorful characters that pop into the swamp from time to time, Elnora starts toward her goal.

The first part is a family tale, where Elnora grapples with her mother's moody, crotchety ways. The second part is a romance. There is much to admire about Elnora. She shows spirit, is resourceful, is honest and sympathetic. Most importantly, she values the surroundings in which she was brought up and makes the most of them.

My one complaint of the novel is there is tendency to overestimate appearances throughout. For example, in one episode Elnora is preparing for graduation and commissions her mother to get new dresses for her. Come time for graduation, her mother presents the "new" dresses which are just cleaned and ironed dresses that Elnora wore last year. This is terribly problematic for Elnora, and everyone is aghast that her mother could do such a thing! Maybe I don't understand the cultural significance of new dresses, and of course the episode was written to show us how selfish and clueless her mother was. But I would have loved to see Elnora put on those old dresses and march down to graduation with her head held high and not given a thought to her appearance.

Apparently there is prequel to this book called Freckles, and it might do one well to check that out first. I was confused in many parts when the narrator mentions Elnora's past interactions with Freckles as if I was supposed to know what she was talking about. I'm off to read Freckles!