Ten-year-old Felicity Merriman is growing up in Williamsburg, Virginia, just before the American Revolution. Felicity longs to be free (so in this story Felicity never gives up no matter what's in her way). High-spirited Felicity would rather rush into exciting adventures, like taming the wild horse owned by the cruel tamer, Jiggy Nye. Even with the warnings from her parents, she runs off in the morning to be with Jiggy Nye's horse who's named by her "Penny".
Felicity isn’t the only one questioning what’s right and what’s wrong. Change is in the air as some colonists—like Felicity’s father and his apprentice, Ben—take steps toward independence from the king of England. Others—like Felicity’s dear grandfather and her best friend, Elizabeth—are shocked that anyone would question the rule of the king. How can Felicity choose a side when she knows it means being disloyal to someone she loves? As the Revolutionary War threatens to tear friends and neighbours apart, Felicity’s family faces a crisis of its own. Through and through Felicity discovers that even though things are different there is no crisis. Her grandfather dies of a heart attack because he coughs so hard and is not reaching the word "child" and his funeral occurs.