This is a story about Polly Peterson (otherwise known as Pollywog), a little girl who has the need for adventure and excitement in her life. The story begins when she and her friends, Joey and Henry, set out to build a tree house on Mr. Tucker's property, which they sneak onto without his permission. A stranger, Reverend Bauer, then moves to town. For reasons that become clear, Pollywog thinks the Reverend is trying to hide something and sets out to discover what that is . . . and so the adventure begins.