Katy and her sister Clover are to spend a whole year at a boarding school on the East Coast, far away from home. At first it seems that they will not enjoy themselves, but they soon find that the school is not quite what they expected.

Gangly, quick-tempered Katy always means to be beautiful and good but meanwhile her resolutions somehow get forgotten or go badly wrong. Until, one terrible day, the swing breaks.

Katy Carr is the longest girl that was ever seen. She is all legs and elbows, and angles and joints. She tears her dress every day, hates sewing and doesn't care about being called 'good'. Her head is full of schemes and one day she plans to do something important. But a great deal is to happen to Katy before that time comes.