A teenage girl who is the daughter of a bacteriologist spends a summer at a seaside community where a spirited peer invites her to a house party, setting off social rivalries and misunderstandings. The narrative follows her interactions with classmates and neighbors through beach scenes, parties, a boating accident, clothing and craft episodes, a midnight ride, Scouts activities, and a family crisis, as rumors, suspicions, and a hidden secret are gradually revealed and reconciled. Episodes emphasize friendship, youthful decision-making, and practical resourcefulness during a coming-of-age season.