Just Jenifer — Janet Lambert

Jenifer, sixteen and pretty, takes charge of her eight younger brothers and sisters when their father, General Jordan, leaves for overseas duty.

Rising gallantly to the challenge, Jenifer moves her more than slightly rambunctious brood to a huge, rambling house near the army post in Orlando, Florida, and runs it -- to the delight of all concerned -- with military precision and infectious good humor. And to add to the lighthearted confusion, Jenifer somehow finds room for Royal, a magnificent chestnut cavalry horse, and a stray pup with a feather-duster tail and the improbable name of Rollo.

Jenifer even finds time to take under her wings a young nobleman, Lord Cyril Carlington, who is living with his dowager aunt near the Jordan's home in Orlando, Florida. Cyril is recovering from the shock of losing his brother and sister in the London blitz, and it takes all the thoughtful understand Jenifer can give to bring him out of himself.