In New England in the late nineteenth century, a fatherless family, happy in spite of its impoverished condition, is befriended by a very rich gentleman and his young son.

The boys are off at a boarding school. Polly is at an exclusive girl's school as a day pupil.

The story of a fatherless family continues with the five Pepper children older. Polly Pepper finds romance while giving piano lessons to help support the family

Five Little Peppers at School By Margaret Sidney

The Five Little Peppers are off to school - Joel and Davie at a boys' boarding school, Polly, Phronsie and Ben at home. At first the storyline shifts between the boys and the girls, until the boys come home for the holidays and all the children are caught up in plans to help the poor family of a brakeman who was killed in an accident. Meanwhile Polly struggles to keep Jasper's friend from being expelled, Phronsie has a frightening accident and Ben works hard to repay Mr. King.