‘O papa! Don’t make us go. I’ll frisk, and be as young as i can and not grow middle-aged or anything disagreeable, if only you’ll let us stay.’

No. Dr Carr’s mins is firmly made up. Katy and her little sister Clover are to spend a whole year away at boarding school. A strange place, far from home – with all those other girls! What could be worse?

But on arrival the girls have an inkling that Hillsover might turn out to be rather different from their expectations. One thing is for sure, it certainly isn’t going to be dull with a girl like Rose Red as an ally!