ENGLAND 1938 Nazis are overpowering Europe! declares The Nettlefield Courier. But in Nettlefield itself all appears to be well. The town is waking up to the fascist threat and the Wonder Girls are finding their places in the world. Except Baby, who feels out of place. The arrival of 16-year-old American investigative journalist, Veronica Park, puts Baby's nose further out of joint. Everyone is too awestruck by Veronica to be suspicious of Sir Malcolm Taggart, who says he wants to feature the Nettlefield orphans in his rival newspaper, The Beacon. At first, neither Baby nor Veronica imagine the terrible extent of Taggart's true plans. Unless they can get along, bombs will fall on Nettlefield before World War Two has even started