The Automobile Girls at Newport; Or, Watching the Summer Parade

In a quiet New Jersey village, sixteen‑year‑old Barbara and her younger sister Mollie spend their days stitching, picking strawberries, and dreaming of a night at the summer’s most talked‑about party. Their modest cottage life, sustained by a meager inheritance after their father’s sudden death, fuels a fierce determination to trade gold‑coins and hard work for a proper dress and a chance to mingle with the town’s wealthier guests.

When the charismatic Ruth Stuart arrives at the local hotel with her cousin Glad the aloof Le Baron, the girls see an opportunity to step onto a world that has seemed out of reach. With help from their friend Grace Carter, they plot every detail—from the perfect outfit to the perfect entrance—while the summer heat and a sudden burst of confidence push them toward a night that could change how they see themselves and their place in the community.