Rainbow Hill

In Short

This novel follows three young sisters—Rosemary, Sarah, and Shirley—who spend a transformative summer at a farmhouse called Rainbow Hill. While their older brother, a doctor, focuses on his work, the girls navigate the challenges of farm life, befriend a lonely neighbor, and dedicate themselves to saving a struggling local family from the threat of the "poor farm." Rich in period detail and family dynamics, the narrative captures the essence of childhood idealism and the lesson that happiness is found by actively sharing it with others.

The Story

The story begins with the Willis family planning a summer move to Rainbow Hill, a charming farmhouse, while their city home undergoes renovations. The three sisters—the spirited and imaginative Rosemary, the impulsive and animal-loving Sarah, and the sweet-natured, robin-like Shirley—arrive at the farm with high expectations of adventure. They are joined by their older brother, Doctor Hugh, who manages their health and schooling, and the resourceful housekeeper, Winnie. The rhythm of farm life is quickly established, marked by the girls' attempts to integrate themselves into the daily chores and their frequent, often mischievous, explorations of the property.

As the summer progresses, the girls encounter the Gays, a family of orphaned siblings living on a nearby, neglected farm. When Rosemary learns that the Gays are in dire financial straits and at risk of being sent to the "poor farm," the sisters are galvanized into action. Sarah, whose defining trait is her unwavering thoroughness, raises money by selling her beloved pet pig, Bony, to a traveling circus agent. Alongside this, the girls provide companionship to Miss Clinton, a lonely neighbor, and offer emotional support to their hosts, the Hildreths.

The narrative arc is punctuated by moments of peril and reconciliation. Sarah’s daredevil behavior, including a dangerous excursion up the windmill, forces the family to confront the risks of their unsupervised play. However, these incidents lead to deeper maturity. By the end of the summer, the Gays’ situation has been stabilized through the girls’ secret efforts and the help of the farmhands, Warren and Richard. As the season turns to autumn and the family prepares to return to the city, the sisters realize they have not found a literal pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, but have instead provided hope and happiness to those around them. The story concludes on a hopeful note, with the girls embracing the future with the same enthusiasm they brought to the farm.

How It Unfolds

The arrival at Rainbow Hill The sisters settle into their new rural environment, quickly meeting the farm's hired hands and establishing a routine of exploration. They are warned by Warren, the hardworking farmhand, about restricted areas like the tool house and the windmill, setting the stage for future conflict.

The mystery of the Gay family While exploring the countryside, the girls discover the impoverished Gay children and learn of their impending eviction. Rosemary takes it upon herself to orchestrate a way to help, despite the family’s pride and desire to avoid charity.

Sarah’s grand sacrifice In a display of singular devotion, Sarah decides to sell her cherished pig, Bony, to secure funds for the Gays. This act serves as the emotional anchor for the girls' philanthropic mission, teaching them the weight of personal sacrifice.

A brush with danger The girls' curiosity leads them to ignore safety warnings, resulting in a frightening incident on the windmill that tests the nerves of their caretakers. This crisis forces the sisters to be honest with their brother about their behavior and the true extent of their mischief.

The summer’s end As the season concludes, the girls reflect on their experiences and the connections they have made. They depart with a newfound understanding that their own "pot of gold" was the happiness they managed to bring into the lives of others.

The People

Rosemary is the eldest sister, whose idealism and infectious "pure joyousness" drive the family’s charitable efforts. She serves as the bridge between the children’s world and the more serious concerns of the adults. Sarah is the youngest, characterized by a stubborn, almost aggressive thoroughness; whether she is scrubbing a pig or creating an "adventure," she does so with her whole heart. Her impulsiveness often leads to trouble, but her loyalty to her sisters and her pets is absolute.

Shirley, the youngest, provides a softer, melodic presence, often deferring to her sisters but showing quiet resilience. Doctor Hugh is the protective, slightly weary authority figure who balances his medical responsibilities with his role as a surrogate father. Winnie, the housekeeper, acts as a foil to the girls' romanticized view of country life; she is pragmatic, sometimes sharp-tongued, and intensely focused on her domestic duties. The hired hands, Warren and Richard, represent the dignity of labor, offering the girls guidance and friendship while striving for their own futures through education. Together, these figures create a small, vibrant ecosystem of learning and mutual growth.

In Its Own Voice

"I don't see how anyone can tell a thing from that," Rosemary complained.

When the doctor shows the girls the blueprints for the new office wing, Rosemary’s confusion highlights her lack of familiarity with professional, grown-up planning.

"I want to see them rip the house," announced Sarah with intense satisfaction.

This line perfectly encapsulates Sarah’s energetic and destructive curiosity, which drives much of the early plot.

"It's your pure joyousness, I think," went on Warren as though he had not heard her.

As the summer ends, Warren identifies the specific quality in Rosemary that allowed her to brighten the lives of their neighbors.

What It's Really About

At its core, the story explores the transition from childhood self-absorption to the realization that one has a responsibility toward others. The book argues that "happiness" is not a passive state to be found, but a commodity to be actively produced and shared. Through the girls' efforts to save the Gays, the narrative examines the indignity of poverty—specifically the fear of the "poor farm"—and suggests that small, sustained acts of kindness can bridge the gap between social classes. It is a meditation on the value of hard work, the importance of family unity, and the idea that true maturity comes from acknowledging the needs of others even when one is still learning to navigate one's own desires.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the gentle, domestic rhythm of classic children’s literature will find this book deeply rewarding. Its warmth lies in the genuine, if sometimes difficult, affection between the sisters and their caretakers. The story feels like a window into a specific, idyllic version of the 1920s, complete with a focus on simple, outdoor pleasures that feel worlds away from the digital age.

However, a modern reader should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes, particularly the sometimes rigid gender roles and the casual, often dismissive, treatment of the impoverished elderly characters they encounter at the poor farm. These moments are presented without modern irony, reflecting the social landscape of the author’s time. The dialect used by the farmhands and the housekeepers might also require a moment of adjustment. Despite these artifacts of the past, the book remains a sincere, earnest, and often funny exploration of what it means to be a "good" person in a small community. Those who stick with it will find the sisters' growth to be genuinely earned, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of nostalgia for a summer that, while clearly fictional, feels comfortingly real.