14-year old Reilly Evans is sent to live with his Aunt Ellen and Uncle Jonathon in Australia after his father is arrested, and his mother is admitted to an institution. After arriving in his new home, Reilly meets Aggie Thackery, a girl from London who will be living and working closely with Reilly's veterinarian aunt on a vet internship. When Reilly and Aggie arrive at the Wild Spring Animal Clinic (Ellen's workplace and home), they discover that life will be much different here down under. Not only are Ellen and Jonathon surrounded daily by exotic animals, they have no TV. Reilly doesn't take the culture shock well, and storms out of the house on a walk, but not before arguing with Aggie about their new home. During his walk, Reilly runs into Miller, an Australian boy his age who welcomes Reilly to his new home. The two boys see a girl their age on her horse ride by, and Miller explains that her name is Fiona McDaniel and she's a loner. When Reilly returns home, his aunt asks

Reilly goes through culture shock; Ellen leaves the clinic in the hands of Aggie while she leaves for the afternoon, and Aggie makes the mistake of thinking she can care for an injured animal on her own.

It's the first day of school for Reilly and Aggie, and while Aggie makes friends easily with Miranda, Reilly finds himself fighting with the school bully....over Fiona.

Miranda, Aggie's new friend, is set on throwing a party with Reilly and Aggie as the guests of honor. Reilly and Miller are raring to go, but Aggie becomes too upset to attend when the flying fox she has been nursing back to healh dies.

When a paraplegic dog that Aggie and Ellen has been caring for needs a pair of wheels to move, Miller decides that he'll help the dog: and maybe impress Aggie. When Reilly informs Aggie that Miller is helping the dog because he likes Aggie, she seems flattered - but isn't interested in Miller. At the same time, Aggie visits Fiona, and tells her that Reilly likes her. Fiona seems flattered, and maybe a little interested in Reilly.