Falsely accused of being a thief, 11-year-old Ellen escapes from her would-be captors by boarding a boat occupied by orphans being transported from England to Canada. Unable to get off the boat and return to her uncle, she is transferred onto the ship and departs for a new life across the ocean. Luckily, Ellen is placed with the Aitken family in Manitoba who accept her as part of their family. This is a sweet story that focuses on a positive experience, making Ellen's life a fairy tale. Many of the orphans (or home children) were not so lucky and, except for the quick reintroduction of George, the author ignores this aspect. ( )