Rebecca Rowena Randall embarks on a long journey to stay with her Aunt Miranda Sawyer and Aunt Jane Sawyer in Riverboro, Maine. Rebecca is from a large family of seven children, and her father has died. Rebecca's mother, Aurelia, runs Sunnybrook Farm while Rebecca and her older sister, Hannah, care for the younger children and help run the household. Although Aunt Miranda requested Hannah, Aurelia has sent Rebecca to stay with her aunts long-term to bolster her educational prospects. Rebecca is on the final leg of the long journey to Riverboro, taking a stagecoach and climbing up in front to converse with the driver. The driver is charmed by Rebecca's bright conversation and impressed by her sharp mind. As they approach Riverboro, Rebecca returns to the inside of the stagecoach carriage, wishing to arrive like a lady. As Rebecca pulls up, the neighbors engage in mean-spirited gossip about her Spanish ancestry and remark that Rebecca won't last three months before being sent back home.
Rebecca's passionate but impractical father, Lorenzo de Medici, frittered wife Aurelia's money away, leaving the family destitute. Lorenzo died on the day of his youngest child's birth. Rebecca inherits her father's aptitude for music and dance, but is plucky and fiery while her father was weak and lacked character. However, Rebecca is also impatient, willful, and distractible. Aunt Miranda and Aunt Jane originally invited Hannah to live with them since she was dependable and quiet. The aunts settled for the livelier Rebecca when Aurelia said she could not do without Hannah.
Strict Aunt Miranda worries that Rebecca will be wild, troublesome, and slovenly. Kindly Aunt Jane tries to interject some optimism, but Aunt Miranda refuses to give Rebecca the benefit of doubt. Aunt Miranda's hardness comes from a life spent running the farm. Jane's more soft-hearted nature was shaped by her time at boarding school, the death of her fiancé, and her work as a nurse in the American Civil War. Hinting at a tender spot in her own heart, Aunt Miranda makes many preparations to ensure Rebecca's comfort. Aunt Miranda is alarmed when the stagecoach driver, Jeremiah Cobb remarks on Rebecca's liveliness. Aunt Miranda is upset again when she finds Rebecca hiding under her bedcovers and wearing her dusty shoes. Jeremiah Cobb discusses Rebecca with his mother, foreshadowing that Rebecca may encounter difficulties while residing with her aunts.
Rebecca's letter to her mother reveals she arrived safely, but that she feels her aunts hate her. Her poems sent to her family also reveal her unhappiness living with her aunts. School is better, and Rebecca excels in reading. However, she struggles with math and her teacher scolds her for wishing to help her family pay off the mortgage on Sunnybrook Farm. Rebecca compares herself to a leashed dog that cannot bite to defend itself.
Rebecca loves walking to school. On the way, she enjoys the flora and fauna and reciting poems and excerpts. Sometimes, Emma Jane Perkins and the Simpson children walk with Rebecca. One day, Rebecca eats salty mackerel for breakfast and takes multiple drinks of water during school. A boy at school named Samuel 'Seesaw' Simson has a crush of Rebecca and fetches a drink whenever she does. Annoyed by the disruptions, the young teacher, Miss Dearborn, punishes them by making them stand next to the water pail. Miss Dearborn realizes her mistake and allows Rebecca to take her seat again. Rebecca conjugates verbs for Miss Dearborn and the two part as friends.
Aunt Miranda is irritated by Rebecca, her chattering, her careless ways, and her genetic tie to her irresponsible father. Quiet Aunt Jane becomes Rebecca's refuge, advocating to allow Rebecca to exchange brown dress fabric for blue and pink. Rebecca loves playing with the other children, including Emma Jane Perkins, Alice Robinson, and the Simpson children. They play war, frontier, and princes in a tower.
Abner Simpson, an urbane and crafty charlatan, is continually in jail due to his criminal pursuits. This leaves Mrs. Simpson alone to work as a laundress while caring for their large brood of children. The eldest Simpson son, George, helps to make ends meet by working on chores for neighboring farms. Small-town gossip about Abner Simpson abounds, including at the school. Rebecca hates bullying and mean-spirited gossip, and she plays an unkind and out-of-character prank on a bully named Minnie Smellie. Rebecca realizes she was wrong to trick Minnie, and gives Minnie a small piece of coral to make amends. When Rebecca hears Minnie ridiculing the Simpson children about their father, Rebecca threatens to take the coral piece back and slap her. Minnie, undaunted, taunts Rebecca the next day at school. Rebecca responds by writing a poem to make Minnie back down and leave the Simpson children alone.
One Friday, the school puts on a special show of dialogues, songs, and recitations. Rebecca rushes home, and when she sees her new pink gingham dress is complete, she can't resist wearing it and carrying her matching parasol. Problem is, her aunts are not home to ask for permission. Rebecca shines during the show, from her art display of the American flag and the goddess Columbia, to her singing and showmanship. Not used to garnering praise and admiration, Rebecca is on top of the world. Her joy quickly turns to despair when encountering Aunt Miranda, who is sure to be angry with Rebecca for wearing the new pink dress without permission.
Rebecca's happiness is crushed when scolded by her Aunt Miranda for wearing the new pink dress without permission. Rebecca is also insulted when Miranda disparages her father, calling him a 'Miss-Nancy.' Aunt Jane speaks up on Rebecca's behalf, but Rebecca is still sent up to her room as a punishment. Rebecca runs away to Jeremiah Cobb's house, asking him to take her back to Sunnybrook. Mr. Cobb listens as Rebecca pours her heart out regarding her troubles.
Stagecoach driver Jeremiah Cobb cleverly questions Rebecca, reminding her of all the reasons why she should remain with her aunts. 'Uncle Jerry' then helps Rebecca sneak back into her aunts' home. That night, Aunt Miranda regrets her harshness with Rebecca. Starting the next day, Rebecca does everything she can to please her Aunt Miranda. However, she's lost her spirited joy, which sensitive Aunt Jane notices. Aunt Jane suggests a special day of playing with Emma Jane and a trip to Milltown with Jeremiah Cobb to lift Rebecca's spirits.
Mr. Jeremiah Cobb and his wife, Mrs. Cobb, take Rebecca and Emma Jane to Milltown. Mrs. Cobb is as charmed by Rebecca as Mr. Cobb. Minnie Smellie tries to stir up trouble, telling her mother that Rebecca was swearing. But the aunts do not punish Rebecca, for she was quoting a play, and the curse was more like a prayer to God. When Aunt Miranda boasts she can handle any child, Aunt Jane uncharacteristically disagrees aloud with a sassy retort.
When Rebecca accidentally smears paint all over her new pink dress, she turns to Mr. and Mrs. Cobb for help. Kind Mrs. Cobb leaps into action, suggesting several remedies for the stain and comforting Rebecca. Rebecca recites her updated poem for the Cobbs, who praise her. Unfortunately, the stain refuses to come out of the dress, and Rebecca must endure another scolding from Aunt Miranda. She's punished by having to wear the stained dress and missing a birthday party. Aunt Jane rebels a bit, making Rebecca a ruffled pinafore to cover the stain. Rebecca experiments with martyrdom with varying success, eventually throwing her parasol down the well. This backfires when water can no longer be drawn up from the well. Poor Rebecca again suffers a scolding from Aunt Miranda, who offers to punish the martyr whenever she wishes.
The poor Simpson children decide to sell soap in the hopes of earing a banquet lamp. Rebecca and Emma Jane help out with the selling, practicing their marketing skills. Rebecca and Emma Jane set out into a glorious autumn day to sell soap, Rebecca reciting poetry and both girls imagining which kinds of tree they'd like to be.
Rebecca earns the lamp for the Simpsons by selling all 300 soap cakes to a single customer, a young man who she calls Mr. Aladdin. Mr. Aladdin has the crimson-shaded banquet lamp delivered to the Simpsons on Thanksgiving day.
Rebecca visits the Simpsons for Thanksgiving, and all enjoy the sight of the banquet lamp. Adam Ladd even remembers to send kerosene for the lamp so the family can afford to light it. Rebecca reveals that she sold all of the soap to her Aunt Jane, and learns Mr. Aladdin's true name is Adam Ladd. It is also revealed that Adam Ladd has a plan to send Rebecca a Christmas present.
As autumn turns to winter, Rebecca learns how to get along with better with her Aunt Miranda. She takes care of the Simpson baby, and has a heart-to-heart conversation with Aunt Jane about the death of Aunt Jane's fiancé. Although Rebecca has many friends, including Emma Jane, Huldah Meserve, Dick Carter, and the Cobbs, Rebecca is still a little lonely as no one truly understands her. Back at Sunnybrook Farm, Rebecca's family is doing well, especially her brother John who is gaining an education and access to doctor's books.
Adam Ladd sends Rebecca a pink coral necklace and Emma Jane a blue enamel locket at Christmas time. Then he visits them and takes them for a sleigh ride. When Mr. Simpson returns, the Simpsons move away from Riverboro. Seesaw Simpson timidly asks Rebecca if he can see her again when she grows up, and she rudely shuts the door in his face. Mr. Simpson again gets up to his old tricks, trading the children's banquet lamp for a bicycle and peddling away. Rebecca's baby sister, Mira, dies. When Rebecca returns to Sunnybrook, she realizes how lucky she is to have the opportunity to be educated. Rebecca selflessly offers to switch places so that Hannah can have her term to be educated. Hannah declines and blushes, remarking that she loves Sunnybrook Farm and its community. Hannah's blush hints that perhaps there is a 'someone' she also loves.
When Reverend Amos Burch and wife return from serving as missionaries in Syria, the Aid Society holds a missionary meeting. Rebecca's aunts fall ill, and she attends the meeting in their place. Rebecca ends up participating in the service, including pitching the tunes, closing the service in prayer, and offering to host the Burch family overnight.
Foreshadowed by the previous chapter, Aunt Miranda is displeased about hosting the missionary and his family. Aunt Jane is more in favor. When Rebeca explains her reasoning, Aunt Miranda's heart opens a little. Rebecca shows great maturity as she offers to ready the house for the visitors, taking up the adult responsibility for the invitation she proffered.
Aunt Miranda's prejudice is exposed when she badmouths Rebecca to the Burches, shocking Mrs. Burch. Aunt Miranda, in turn, is astonished when the deacon suggests Rebecca is more like Israel Sawyer, Rebecca's grandfather, than her father. Once again, Rebecca shows great maturity by allowing her ill aunts to sleep in the next morning and working to ready the house for breakfast. Aunt Jane is too ill to rise from bed, and Aunt Miranda wakes in a poor mood. Aunt Miranda is astonished when she enters the kitchen and finds Rebecca has accomplished the breakfast preparations. Won over by Rebecca's hard work, Aunt Miranda declares Rebecca is 'All Sawyer,' the highest compliment she could give. Although Miranda's heart opens a little, she does not completely reform herself, worrying that more missionaries will show up demanding food and lodging. Rebecca senses she embarked on a new chapter in her life the moment Mr. Burch asked her to lead the prayer.
Rebecca starts school at Wareham, and Emma Jane starts at Edgewood. Missing Rebecca, Emma Jane pines and stops eating to manipulate her parents into allowing her to attend Wareham. Also from Riverboro, boy-crazy Huldah Meserve attends Wareham, but grows distant from Rebecca and Emma Jane. Rebecca is far less interested in boys than Huldah, seeing them more as schoolmates than beaus. English literature and composition teacher, Miss Maxwell, is Rebecca's most influential teacher. Miss Marxwell writes to her father about Rebecca's potential.
Huldah Meserve interrupts Emma Jane and Rebecca's study time, prattling on about her high insteps and insulting Miss Maxwell. Huldah reveals that Mr. Aladdin is at Wareham, and Rebecca wonders whether he'll visit her. On Fridays, Rebecca visits Miss Maxwell and reads books until Miss Maxwell returns from teaching class. Then Rebecca spends every weekend at Riverboro with her aunts. When Mr. Aladdin and Huldah visit Rebecca at Miss Maxwell's, Rebecca feels envious of the vivacious Huldah. However, Mr. Aladdin makes it clear he has no interest in Huldah.
Rebecca becomes the assistant editor of the Wareham school newspaper. At home, Aunt Miranda is especially harsh and angers Rebecca. Aunt Jane reveals that Aunt Miranda is sick, and that likely explains her harshness. Rebecca's aunts are also suffering financial stress. The company they invested in went bankrupt and their investment was lost. Things are even worse at Sunnybrook Farm. The apple and potato crops fail, and the hay crop is poor. Injuries hinder the family members, and the family is unable to scrape together enough money to pay the interest on the farm mortgage. Although Hannah is engaged to a young farmer, there is little hope Hannah will ask her fiancé to help her family.
Worried about the mortgage on Sunnybrook Farm, Rebecca writes a poem and creates a sketch vilifying mortgages. Adam Ladd visits Rebecca, thinks she looks pale and thin, and is concerned she is studying too hard. He visits the school principal to set up a English composition competition, and then calls on Miss Maxwell. Mr. Aladdin offers to pay for Rebecca to travel with Miss Maxwell for a spring vacation by the sea. Mr. Aladdin is displeased when he sees Rebecca walking and laughing with the boy that is the senior editor of the school newspaper.
Rebecca and Emma Jane wonder at the meaning of the book title, 'The Rose of Joy,' guessing success, love, and sacrifice. Rebecca and Miss Maxwell discuss the title during their seaside trip, and Rebecca thinks she is close to understanding. Rebecca works on her prize essay, knowing that Miss Maxwell cannot help her. Rebecca also writes a fairy story. Miss Maxwell is so impressed by the story, she sends it to Adam Ladd. Remembering Rebecca's story of the pink parasol, Adam Ladd buys parasols for Rebecca and Emma Jane.
There's a party for Delia Weeks at Mrs. Robinson's, and the topic of gossip is Rebecca and her family. They also (accurately) speculate that Aunt Miranda and Aunt Jane have lost money. Finally, they ponder Adam Ladd's romantic situation. Rebecca wins the essay contest and sends the $50.00 prize to her family to pay the interest on their mortgage. Hannah is getting married, so Rebecca travels to Sunnybrook to help the family transition to life without Hannah.
One year later, Rebecca graduates from Wareham. The town floods with people for the big graduation event. Rebecca has two job offers involving teaching and education. Some of Rebecca's family attend the ceremony, however her mother's duties and poverty prevent her from leaving Sunnybrook. Surprisingly, Aunt Jane is not at graduation either. Mr. Ladd tells Rebecca he is proud of her and looks forward to getting to know her as an adult.
After the graduation ceremony, Rebecca learns from the Cobbs that Aunt Miranda suffered a stroke and is paralyzed. Adam Ladd reveals to Miss Maxwell that Sunnybrook Farm will be bought by the railroad, and Adam plans invest the money for Rebecca's mother so she can earn an yearly income. As Rebecca readies to start her new job, her mother has an accident, and Rebecca returns to Sunnybrook. Aunt Miranda tells Aunt Jane that when she passes, Aunt Jane should bring the Randalls to live in the brick house. She also says she's leaving the brick house to Rebecca, with the caveat that Aunt Jane can live out the rest of her days there.
Rebecca is secretly unhappy with farm life at Sunnybrook, especially when her longed for teaching position is filled. However, she doesn't let it show, continuing to infuse light and happiness at the farm. Aurelia feels guilty for imposing on her daughter, but Rebecca realizes wisely that at 17, her life is only just starting. She will have opportunities to come. Will Melville arrives at Sunnybrook with a letter from the brick house in Riverboro.
The letter from Aunt Jane reveals that Aunt Miranda has died. Will Melville takes Rebecca to the train station, and both have seen the surveyors foreshadowing the purchase of Sunnybrook by the railroad. Rebecca sees Adam Ladd at the train station. When he learns of Aunt Miranda's death, he tells Rebecca he'll come to Riverboro. Adam has bought Rebecca a new copy of 'Aladdin and the Magic Lamp,' a story she loves. As Rebecca is grieving, Adam does not yet give Rebecca the book. He reads a passage, revealing the parallel between Aladdin and the princess and Adam Ladd and Rebecca.
The story comes full circle when Mr. Cobb picks up Rebecca from the train station and she sits up top of the stagecoach with him. When she arrives the brick house, she runs up the path and into the embrace of Aunt Jane. Rebecca says she has nothing but gratitude for Aunt Miranda and harbors no ill will for her aunt's harsh words. Aunt Jane reveals that Rebecca has inherited the brick house and the land surrounding it. After paying her respects to Aunt Miranda, Rebecca sits outside the house, looking over what has become her home and imagining what will be in the future.
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