When adventurer Great-Uncle Matthew must stop collecting fossils, he decides to collect orphans instead, but after he disappears on an expedition, his niece, Sylvia, is left a dwindling bank account and two sisters to raise.
The family's luck begins to change when Sylvia takes in boarders to help pay the bills. Two, including a dance instructor, offer to educate the children for free; she arranges for free tuition to a performing-arts school.
The academy's regal director, Madame Fidolia, soon recognizes Posy's ballet talents and takes her under her wing. Pauline shines in drama class, and Petrova squeaks by while privately pursuing her passion for fixing automobiles.
The story follows the three Fossil sisters as they attend rehearsals, audition for roles, and shine in performances. By the novel's end, Pauline, Posy, and Petrova are ready for their chosen careers.