In the country town of Turalla, Victoria in the early 1900s Alan Marshall had not long started school when he contracted the crippling disease poliomyelitis.

With the aid of crutches and a wheelchair, young Alan is able to attend school, where he makes new friends and confronts the class bully.

Young Alan adapts quickly to walking on crutches and goes on to the new challenge of horseback riding.

An interest in writing is awakened by Alan's experiences on his first trip away from home.