New girl Darrell Rivers arrives at Malory Towers with hopes of making friends and proving herself. From the start, Darrell faces challenges: dealing with the mischievous Sally, the spoiled Gwendoline, and her own temper. As Darrell navigates school life, she learns that friends can be both comforting and testing. Her first term is filled with school competitions, midnight feasts, and the thrill of dormitory life, but the real test comes when she tries to keep her cool during a disastrous series of events. Just as she begins to settle in, a shocking betrayal threatens to unravel everything-will Darrell manage to hold her ground?