It's 1935, and Ellen and her mother must leave their dried up Saskatchewan farm to board with Aunt Gladys in Toronto. Intimidated by her new surroundings, Ellen chooses to hide in the branches of the large leafy tree outside her window and watch their neighborhood children playing, rather than joining in their games. But when Ellen overhears a plan to evict the family next door from their home, she must overcome her fears and warn Charlene, the oldest girl in the family. Together, the girls foil their greedy building manager's plot and "hatch" a plan to sell eggs in order to pay the family's mounting back rent.