In a world that refuses to let her move forward, can Poppy stay ahead of the pack? In an alternative Edwardian era, steam-powered marvels are a common occurrence. Airships fill the sky, steam-powered automobiles race across the land, and television, computers and are already an emergent technology. However, these inventions are only for a privileged few, as those lower down the social ladder struggle to get by without even the most basic of necessities. Sixteen-year old Poppy Orpington seems destined for a life of near-poverty until her father perfects a petrol-fuelled racing engine. Their early successes allow Poppy to gain a new prosthetic arm, allowing to her to gain the mobility shes desired all her life. But can a working class family crack open the aristocratic world of motor racing? Can Poppy overcome prejudice and social conformity as she fights to find a place in the world? Or will the ruling elite crush her only chance of a better life?