novel introduces readers to the four sisters living in their grandfather’s old house in New York City. Their father has gone to China for work, leaving them in the care of their unloving step-grandmother, accompanied by memories of a happier time before their mother’s death. The narrative captures their daily lives filled with mundane challenges, such as feeling neglected and dealing with the loss of their nurturing figure Lizzie, the family’s former nurse, who was abruptly dismissed. Amidst their drudgery, the girls find solace in their imaginations and the camaraderie they share, setting the stage for a story of resilience and sisterly support as they dream of better days. (This is an automatically generated summary.)