The Journey of Natty Gann

In the midst of the Great Depression, 17-year-old Natty Gann lives with her widowed father, Sol, in Chicago. Their modest lives are soon disrupted when Sol receives a job offer that requires him to leave the city abruptly.

With a new lumberjack job awaiting in Washington state, Sol must depart quickly, leaving Natty in the care of Connie, the innkeeper of their boarding house. This sudden change engulfs Natty in feelings of abandonment and loneliness.

Motivated by her desire to reunite with her father, Natty embarks on a daunting cross-country journey. She must confront the harsh realities of homelessness as she learns to ride the rails alongside various fellow travelers.

During her travels, Natty discovers a wolfdog trapped in a dog fighting ring and bravely rescues him. She names the wolfdog Wolf, forging an inseparable bond that provides her with companionship and protection throughout her journey.

As Natty navigates her life on the road, she experiences brief moments of romance with Harry, another young drifter. Their connection provides some comfort amid the challenges she faces while searching for her father.

Natty finds herself wrongly accused and placed in juvenile detention on charges of cattle rustling. Using her ingenuity, she escapes from confinement and confronts Charlie, who has claimed Wolf, leading to unexpected revelations.

After escaping juvenile detention, Natty encounters Charlie, initially perceived as a threat. To her surprise, he proves to be kind-hearted, returning Wolf to her and providing assistance for her continued journey.

Despite receiving help, Natty faces another setback when a deceitful ticket agent swindles her out of the train ticket money given by Charlie. Left with no choice, she stealthily rides freight trains once again to continue her pursuit of her father.

In a surprising turn of events, Natty reunites with Harry in a shantytown, finding some solace in his presence. However, their paths soon diverge as Harry chooses to work in San Francisco without inviting Natty to join him.

Meanwhile, Sol is frantically searching for his daughter after learning from Connie that she is missing. After several painful phone calls, he receives the devastating news of Natty's wallet being found near a derailed freight train.

In his despair, Sol requests a week off from work to search for Natty among the wreckage of the train derailment. Despite his efforts, he finds no trace of his daughter, intensifying his grief over her absence.

Determined to find her father, Natty presses on, digging through photographs and conferring with loggers to gather information about Sol's whereabouts. Her cherished pendant remains her most treasured connection to her family.

As Natty continues her journey, Wolf begins to sense other wolves, demonstrating a longing to reunite with his kind. His howls express sadness, echoing his feelings of isolation amidst their travels together.

A company clerk, recognizing Natty’s situation at a logging camp, arranges for her safe descent down the mountain. A twist of fate occurs when he finds a returned letter from Sol containing Natty's train ticket, reigniting her hopes.

Finally, as Natty traverses the rugged terrain, she spots a truck carrying injured men and, upon closer inspection, recognizes her father among them. Despite the truck's quick departure, a heartfelt reunion awaits her by the roadside.