Phoebe Fanny is an 11-year old girl living in a colonial family in New England in the late 18th century. She lives with her parents and 5 siblings in a small three bedroom house. Her daily life involves chores like cleaning, gardening, and cooking to help her mother. She attends a one room school and enjoys playing with her siblings when chores are done. Her family eats a typical colonial diet of foods like bacon, apples, and chicken. Corporal punishment by her father is used to discipline the children when they misbehave.