The story follows Darbella ‘Darrell’ Rivers, a lively and kind-hearted girl starting her first term at the prestigious all-girls boarding school, Malory Towers. Darrell quickly makes new friends and faces the usual ups and downs of school life—homesickness, pranks, friendships, and learning lessons about courage and kindness. The book captures the charm and spirit of 1940s British boarding schools with a mix of adventure, camaraderie, and schoolroom drama.