Peaceful Panther Mountain became a war zone in the summer of 1861. Virginia had broken away from the United States and families in the western part of the state had to choose sides or face jail, exile, or death. 18-year-old Lydia Renick watched her world crumble. Her best friend was forced to sign the Confederate oath. Her father fled the state because he wouldn't, leaving the teenager, her mother and seven siblings to fend for themselves. Faced time and time again with danger, Lydia is forced outside of the world she knows and to act with courage and quick-thinking like never before. She takes on the roles of guard, mountain guide, and detective, all while navigating a life in the 19th century that intersects with the country-molding Civil War and the Chicago World's Fair. Lydia's story is a reflection of the bravery, innovation, and excitement of a country that is truly on the verge.