The story revolves around a girl named Lee Lee who lives in a walled city with her father, a wealthy merchant. She is forbidden from leaving the city, but when she discovers her father's lies about the outside world, she becomes rebellious. Lee Lee escapes the city with the help of Arthur, a milkman, but is eventually caught by her father and forced to return. Her father arranges a marriage for her, but Lee Lee escapes again with Arthur's help.
Upon returning to her city, Lee Lee finds that a disease is spreading due to the city's toxic water supply. She takes charge, evacuates the city, and leads the people to a nearby town where they can get help. Her father eventually apologizes and acknowledges his mistakes, promising to trust Lee Lee's decisions. The story concludes with Lee Lee falling in love with Arthur, and despite initial disapproval from her father, the two eventually get together.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The narrator, Lee Lee, lived in a village hidden high in the mountains.
2. Her father was a merchant who built castles and a big wall around the city to keep them safe.
3. Lee Lee was forbidden to leave the city, but she would often try to sneak out.
4. When Lee Lee was 10, she snuck into her father's suitcase and traveled outside the city.
5. Her father caught her and told her that the outside world was full of monsters and bad people.
6. Lee Lee believed her father and stayed inside the city until she met Arthur, a milkman who told her that there were no monsters outside.
7. Lee Lee became friends with Arthur and learned about the outside world from him.
8. When Lee Lee's father planned to marry her off to a stranger, she decided to escape with Arthur's help.
9. They snuck out of the city, and Arthur took Lee Lee to his home, where she met his family.
10. Lee Lee started attending school and learned new things.
11. However, her father found her and brought her back to the city, and Arthur was forced to become her servant.
12. Lee Lee's father planned to marry her off to a rich boy, but she refused.
13. Arthur helped Lee Lee escape again, and they ran away from the city together.
14. They heard news that a disease was spreading in Lee Lee's city, and many people were getting sick.
15. Lee Lee and Arthur returned to the city to find that the lake was covered in algae, and the water was toxic.
16. Lee Lee decided to take action and rallied the villagers to leave the city and find a new home.
17. They marched to a nearby town, where they were welcomed and helped by the people.
18. Lee Lee's father eventually apologized for his mistakes and promised to let her make her own decisions.
19. Lee Lee fell in love with Arthur, but her father initially disapproved of their relationship.
20. Eventually, Lee Lee's father accepted Arthur, and they were able to be together.