Nine-year-old Elina lives with her mother and younger sister in Northern Sweden during the 1950s. She and her family are among the Finnish-speaking minority. Elina's father has died of tuberculosis. The two were very close and Elina, who has also suffered from tuberculosis, has developed a keen sense of justice, just like her father. Elina has been at home for a long time, but now she can now return to school.