Eleven-year-old Allister McRuer's fears materialize when he and hisfamily arrive at their Manitoba pioneer homestead in 1892. What could makeit worse? Being called Allis.During the trip from Lachute, Quebec to Cherry Creek, Manitoba, Allistershares a train boxcar with three of his brothers and all of their family'slivestock. The closer he gets to the homestead his father and oldestbrother, John, started three years ago, the worse Allister's misery gets asolder brother, Will, torments Allister by calling him "Allis," a name hehates because it sounds like "Alice."Allister's first hour in Cherry Creek does little to ease his concerns.While their brothers unload the McRuers' two boxcars, Allister and his twinbrother, Jim, explore the town. Allister is discouraged at the small size ofthe local school, wondering how he will ever finish grade eight.As they continue walking, Allister and Jim witness a terrible accident.Although they're able to help a horse and an injured driver, Allister'sanxiety over his family's move to the prairies takes a new turn when he'stold that the only doctor within seventy miles is out of town on anothercall. Who can he get to help them?