The significant events occur within a crucial one-month period which changes the characters' lives forever. The story begins with Virginia announcing that she's writing about the adventures of August of her twelfth year. She believes she starts the month like a wobbly caterpillar only to emerge as a winged butterfly.

Virginia has left President James Madison's country estate of Montpelier in Orange, Virginia, to work at the White House in Washington City. Virginia is surprised that Tobias, another house slave, chose her to serve at the White House. She quickly learns that she will have opportunities to help slaves escape. As a child, she can do things that would be too dubious for an adult slave to carry out.

Robinet effectively contrasts slaves and masters. For example, she describes the fashions, furnishings, and cuisine of the White House occupants. Robinet describes the "grand White House staircase railing" over...