Under the Lilacs is a children's novel about two young runaways from a travelling circus, a boy named Ben and his dog Sancho, who find shelter in a quiet New England town. They meet the Minot sisters, Bessie and Betty, and their kind family, who take them in. Ben must learn to trust others and to find a place for himself in an ordinary community. The book is gentle and humorous, with a warm sense of home, friendship and kindness to animals.