This is the story of Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones, an extraordinarily vivacious 9 year-old-girl, and her first year at the Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy, a country boarding school full of fun, mystery and intrigue. There's a strange Principal who hides from her students, a girl determined to be Alice-Miranda's arch enemy, a neighbouring boys' school under threat.