* Setting: The story takes place during a summer at the Melendy family's house in the country. The Melendy family includes four children - Mona, Rush, Miranda, and Oliver.
* Mona's desire: Mona, the eldest daughter, is deeply unhappy about her freckles. She sees them as a flaw and longs for clear, beautiful skin.
* The freckle cream promise: Mona purchases a jar of "freckle cream" from a traveling salesman who promises it will make her freckles disappear. She is incredibly excited and hopeful.
* The cream's ineffectiveness: Despite Mona's diligent application of the cream, it doesn't work. Her freckles remain, and she is heartbroken and disillusioned.
* Mona's adventure with the carnival people: She gets a job with a carnival group selling tickets to help her earn money for her freckle cream. She makes new friends and has new experiences.
* Discovery of self-acceptance: Over the course of the summer, Mona participates in her siblings' imaginative games, goes on small adventures, and experiences the simple joys of childhood. As she gets caught up in life with her family, Mona gradually realizes that her freckles don't define her worth or beauty. She learns to accept herself as she is.
* The resolution: By the end of the summer, Mona no longer cares about the freckle cream. She understands that her freckles are a part of who she is, and she is happy and confident in her own skin.