At age 11 Rosie O'Brien is sentenced to 14 years in prison and transported to the other side of the world – the far Colony of New South Wales. In this wild place she has only herself to rely on. Her letters home record the trials, hardships and miracles that befall her. Somewhere in this God forsaken land is her convict father, but is he alive? Based on actual convict experiences.

An outspoken girl, Rosie makes friends, and enemies too. The journey out is difficult, most especially when the weather turns foul and some of her companions die.

On arrival in the Colony, Rosie finds herself with a whole new set of difficulties to overcome. The English who run the penal settlement have no sympathy for the Irish, in particular the Irish rebels, such as her father.

This story is based on real accounts of convict experiences, and historical facts about the early days of settlement in Australia. The author, Kate Walker, is descended from an Irish convict.