Although the plot of this lively story of a mother and daughter's trials and thrills in managing a carnival is heavily contrived, the book sparkles with atmospheric ""carny"" talk and adventures. Fifteen-year-old Capri and her mother, Francia Maccomb, vivacious former-star of vaudeville, choose to sell the farm left to them by Uncle Shie, Francia's partner, and to keep his carnival. Eventually, despite underhanded machinations of the show's former manager to destroy the show, rackets which creep in, and Francia's attempts to protect her daughter from show business, the show is at last reorganized with new acts and a happy, loyal company. Capri finds new friends, a new step-father, and wins the approval of her mother for sharing the exciting carnival life. This is a warm-hearted yarn with an appealing mother-daughter relationship and the never-failing fascination of show business.