Edna Ferber's 1924 novel tells the story of Selina De Jong and her son Dirk, whom Selina nicknames "So Big," after a verbal game the two play during his childhood.

Despite the title, this story is mainly about Selina, who was orphaned when a gunman mistakenly shot her gambler father. Selina completed her education and resolved to earn her living as a schoolteacher in a Dutch farming community outside Chicago in the late nineteenth century. The harsh life of the hardworking Dutch farmers contrasts with the one where she grew up; but Selina makes the most of her situation. She stays with a host family, inspires their young son Rolf to pursue his artistic dreams rather than remain on the farm, and marries Purvis - a kindly but simple bachelor, settling into the hard life of a farmer's wife. Purvis's death leaves Selina to run the farm and raise Dirk alone.

Selina does not fit in well with the local community, but she adapts. Following the death of her husband, she deviates from traditional farming methods, trying new crops and new farming and marketing techniques. These practices, along with a lot of hard work and a bit of luck, lead to a successful life. However Selina does not measure success only by financial profit. She values beauty,  kindness, and integrity, which define her character throughout her life. For years after her arrival, neighborhood farmers joke about an offhand remark she made on her first day about the beauty of cabbages.

Ferber contrasts Selina's outlook with that of her son. When Dirk comes of age, he trains and works as an architect before switching to a more lucrative career in banking.

I enjoyed Ferber's straightforward writing style and her focus on characters.

What the story lacks in plot, it more than makes up for with the development of the characters and ideas about the meaning of life. Dirk's pursuit of material gains contrasts with his mother's desire for beauty and truth. Selina was a feminist before the idea was popular. She defines success for herself and lives her life in pursuit of happiness.

It is clear that Ferber approves of Selina's choices.