The story follows Elizabeth Allen, a spoiled only child who is furious when her parents decide to send her to Whyteleafe School, a boarding school. Determined to get expelled and return home, Elizabeth misbehaves from the moment she arrives. However, she soon discovers that Whyteleafe is unlike other schools—the students govern themselves through weekly community meetings, where behavior and discipline are decided by their peers. This unexpected system challenges Elizabeth in ways she never anticipated.
