It is difficult to be yourself when everyone else in your culture will shun you because of who you really are deep down inside. It was that way for Annie--she wasn't allowed to express herself in the way she loved so dearly--painting. Well, at least she couldn't ever be found out. Things change as Annie is delighted to be able to have her non-Amish pen pal from Denver come to stay with her for a while. It is then that Annie learns what is most important--and in the meantime, she helps her closest friend, Louisa Stratford from Denver, to be refreshed by the common way in which they live.