Natty Gann (played by Meredith Salenger) is a twelve year old Depression era girl whose single-parent father leaves her behind in Chicago while he goes to Washington State to look for work in the timber industry. Natty runs away from the guardian she was left with to follow Dad. She befriends and is befriended by a wolf that has been abused in dog fights, hops a freight train west, and is presumed dead when her wallet is found after the train crashes. Dad gets bitter and endangers himself in his new job. Meanwhile Natty has a series of adventures and mis- adventures in various farmhouses, police stations, hobo camps, reform schools, and boxcars.
After the parties, jobs, and hook-ups well into their thirties, eight friends are trying to hold on to their group as they learn that while growing up is hard, staying close is harder.
Dragonfly is about unlikely friendships. Seeing a lack of care, COLLEEN decides to care for ELSIE. Never sure of her motivations, Dragonfly is a chillingly tense narrative that will make you question your preconceived judgements.