This is an amazing story of loyalty to family, friends, and your country. Susan, 14, of Richmond is a bright young girl who wants to do something for the Confederate Cause. The reader follows Susan as she learns and grows throughout the story. As Susan is high-spirited, she travels around in boys clothes. On one particular excursion Susan runs in to her estranged older brother, Lucien. To help with the Cause Susan and her best Connie collect silk dresses from all sorts of ladies to make into a spy balloon for the confederacy. Lucien tells Susan secrets that seem to tear apart her family. She realizes that her society is corrupt. The more Susan learns the sicker she gets of her Southern society. This is an amazing tale of growing up and learning that people do bad things.