This story was based on a true story that happened back in the year 1786. It took place in Austrailia.

Mary Broad was only 18 years of age, when in terrible poverty, she steals a silk hat. For that small crime, she was sentenced to death as it says in the beginning of the book. However, at the last minute she gets a break from hanging, and is instead, sentenced to 7 years of transportation. The fate though, is almost as horrifying as death, in that these prisoners in transportation live in VERY deplorable conditions.

The only thing Mary can do is have courage and be determined to live one day to the next. And that is exactly what she does, and is of lots of help and a friend to her fellow prisoners.

Throughout the story, there is birth of children, escape, and death.