It is a bit of a stretch to call this a North Carolina novel. The main character, Dally, is a poor girl from the North Carolina mountains, but early in the novel she is sent to New England to live with a widow lady, Mrs. Jacobs. It takes Dally some time to adjust to her new surroundings, but by the end of the novel she has won over the other characters with her open heart, self-sacrifice, and bravery. (As in many novels of this era, the main character’s dog has a role in the plot.)
Check this title’s availability and access an online copy through the UNC-Chapel Hill Library catalog.