The year is 1959, and Helena returns to her boarding school on Trinity Island. On arrival she is summoned to the study of Miss Parker, the headmistress, where she receives an unpleasant surprise. Helena is in disgrace because of an incident during the holidays where her actions besmirched her posh family's good name, and therefore that of the school - and now she has to face the loss of all her former privileges. No longer can she laud it over her peers. Instead - for the first time - she is subjected to corporal punishment! Life changes drastically for Helena as she endures bare bottom spankings with hand, hairbrush, slipper and cane. She is also assigned to the Detention Class which involves carrying out irksome and dirty domestic tasks. Yet throughout all this, she slowly manages to win the respect of her classmates, take her punishments stoically, and becomes one of the gang. There are pranks and whackings galore along the way as lifelong friendships are forged.