Sara resents Aunt Hetty for not letting her pick out her own clothes. When she meets a young runaway named Jo Pitts (who happens to looks just like her), she decides to trick her aunt by trading places with the girl.
Sara escapes to the mainland where street toughs believe she is Jo Pitts. Meanwhile, Hetty is still unaware that Sara and Jo switched places, while Janet suspects Felix of keeping a secret from her.
When Alec is elected to the School Board, Hetty quits teaching and Alastair Dimple,an out-of-work actor posing as a substitute teacher, is hired. His unorthodox teaching methods impress the children but bother Hetty.
Janet takes up the cause of women's suffrage, sending the town of Avonlea into an uproar. Her efforts to get votes for women bring up questions about the working conditions and pay of the Avonlea Cannery employees.
Convinced that judgment day is at hand, the children confess their sins to each other. Janet feels pressured to wear an ugly hair comb because it's a King Family heirloom and scrambles to replace it when it goes missing.
Marilla Cuthbert dies suddenly, meaning Rachel, Davey, and Dora may have to leave Green Gables unless Gilbert Blythe can find a way that they can stay.