Karine Poppel, the spirited youngest daughter of English immigrants settling in 1830s Adelaide, bubbles with cheerful energy, eagerly exploring the untamed Australian wilderness alongside her siblings. Her profound bond with nature manifests in friendships with a dingo called Little, a sheep named Snowflake, and a troupe of goats, showcasing her knack for taming wild creatures and championing animal welfare during disputes. This connection fuels bold choices, like domesticating Little despite skepticism.

Financial strain forces her father to sell their livestock, including Snowflake, devastating Karine. A subsequent carriage accident leaves her with temporary amnesia, leading the affluent Princeton family to mistakenly adopt her as an orphan. Tempted by their offer to secure land for her struggling family, she nearly embraces this new life but reclaims her identity and loyalty upon recovering her memories, choosing to return home.

Playful yet occasionally self-centered, Karine navigates sibling dynamics with fiery clashes against older sister Clara and inseparable camaraderie with Kate, her chief partner in adventures. Though academics like math challenge her, she excels in inventive problem-solving—deciphering a theft through observation and bridging language barriers via gestures.

Her family’s hardships—her father’s brief alcoholism, relentless rivalry with the affluent Mr. Pettywell—forge her resilience. Unknowingly, her compassion moves the Princetons to gift her family land, cementing their financial stability. Across four transformative years, her journey traces a path from whimsical curiosity to steadfast empathy, her grit quietly underpinning her family’s survival.

Notably, the name "Karine" surfaces solely in the French adaptation, with all other media dubbing her Lucy-May. No expanded backstory or development exists beyond the original series in spinoffs or official extensions.