Ipse Dixit describes the adventures and challenges of Melvina Vanora Clark while living in the heavily forested mountains of New Mexico. Melvina struggles with the demands of her parents and older brother and receives the dreaded pickle award. She found the Latin expression Ipse Dixit in the dictionary and adopted it as her favorite expression. As she walks through the woods, she is very fearful of the alligator juniper trees with bark like alligator skin and threatening branches. Melvina has a vivid imagination and likes to call herself Chief White Waves. She learns to overcome her fears and celebrate her life.