Impoverished Vermont farm girl Lyddie Worthen is determined to gain her independence by becoming a factory worker in Lowell, Massachusetts, in the 1840s.

Torn apart by the separation of her family, Lyddie vows to bring them together again and save their farm by finding work at a cotton mill. When Diana, a fellow factory worker, asks for Lyddie's help in demanding better treatment, Lyddie refuses for fear of losing her job. It's not until Diana dies from conditions at the factory, and Lyddie's little sister falls ill, that Lyddie begins to consider taking a stand and making a choice that will change...