A group of young people in a small city, unable to find any niche for themselves because of the economic situation, make a go of a cooperative ""service"" (from baby minding to pottery), under the guidance of Ann, who is one of them, but has more gumption than the rest. The moral is just a bit too obvious now and then, and the solution is weakened (as an object lesson) by the fact that a wealthy citizen lends them the house for their activities. But as a story, the book is good reading.