ELIZA PLUMBER - a name that most of New York knew the younger Pulitzer sister as. Greatly ashamed of her real surname, she marks all of her articles with that pen name - at her older sister's request. Elizabeth is a rather troubled fifteen year old; after losing her mother when she was three, she has been primarily raised by her sister, Katherine. Her sister has taught her proper manners and how to address different people in different fashions, but Elizabeth has always had a flare for rebellion. Growing up, she would sneak her way out of the house and run away to visit her friends at the refuge.

But, once her father figures out her nightly visits to the refuge, she is punished and forbid from interacting anymore with them. After years of receiving lessons on the proper behavior of young girls, Elizabeth is taught to not act against authority and follow the rules. Katherine encourages her to write for The Sun with her, stating continuously how it was a great distraction and way to avoid the lessons.

After her acceptance of the position, Elizabeth is assigned to write for recreational activities the socialites participated in throughout the city. Under the pen name of Eliza Plumber, she felt like she was no longer associated with a newspaper tycoon. No one knew who she was. Another part of her position at The Sun is to deliver the printed newspapers to the stands. At one of the stands is where she meets Race - a cigar smoking young Newsie with a quirk for sly remarks, who soon takes a particular liking to the young girl....