In 1841, fifteen-year-old Bridie Stewart and her family leave their grim existence in Covent Garden and travel to a prosperous new life in Port Phillip. Bridie’s mother and stepfather expect Bridie to grow up during the long months at sea, forget her dead father, and prepare for a sensible marriage in colonial Australia.

But Bridie doesn’t want to grow up, or ever forget her dad. She’s determined to smuggle a notebook filled with his fairytales to the far side of the world.