A missing cake—that's how it all starts. It's stolen from Bab and Betty's tea party, and they soon discover the culprit: a lovable poodle named Sancho. His owner is a boy called Ben, who's run away from the circus. The girls' mother takes them in, and gives Ben a job helping get an old house ready for its grand re-opening. "Under the Lilacs" follows Betty, Bab, and Ben's innocent adventures around the house and the surrounding idyllic countryside. Just like Alcott's classic "Little Women", it's a coming-of-age tale where kindness and generosity are key.