Fourteen-year-old Elizabeth has been told that she must leave school and begin working at a chicken factory to help her family survive the Great Depression. She doesn't seem to have any choice in the matter. With each passing day, her dreams of being a journalist seem to drift further and further away. With the help of her coworker, Anna, she manages to deal with cruel bosses and the advances of a nasty coworker. But when evidence of theft is found, they realize someone in the company has secrets to hide and will do anything to keep the girls quiet.