When young Spit MacPhee came to live with his grandfather, the people of the Australian country town of St Helen feared for his future. For Fyfe MacPhee was a crazy old man, and barefoot Spit had to fend for himself along the riverbank where they lived. While some people believed that Spit could look after himself, there were those who believed he would be better cared for in a boys home - and when old Fyfe died after one of his 'turns' a fierce battle to decide Spit's destiny began.

Nobody in the Australian country town of St Helen knew who Lola MacKellar was - least of all Lola herself. All they knew was that she had come from a foster home in Melbourne and that her real name was Lorelei. It was a puzzle too why the wealthy Eyres had brought her to their vast riverside property yet lodges her with the Scobies like an outcast. For a while it didn't matter. But Lola couldn't remain the free young spirit she was forever. One day the questions about her identity would begin....