David's Little Lad

"David's Little Lad" by L.T. Meade is a late 19th-century story that introduces Gwladys Morgan, a young Welsh girl yearning for something more than her quiet country life at Tynycymmer. As the story starts, Gwladys grapples with feeling stuck and longs for excitement, a desire complicated by her family, including her brother David, and the anticipated return of her cherished yet troubled brother, Owen, whose past carries a shadow of scandal. The opening explores themes of family love and reputation, and the story shows her dealing with the boredom of her day to day, eagerly anticipating Owen's return, while also uncovering the details of his past misdeeds; and as Gwladys dreams of adventure, she begins to understand the responsibilities and imperfections tied to her family's name, especially Owen's mistakes, which prepares her for growth and upcoming trials. The whole thing makes for a story focused on the strong characters driving the plot and their challenges.