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Christine "Chris" Langton, a spirited and tomboyish girl, is sent to the oppressive Desdemona Girls’ Boarding School in late 19th-century Yorkshire, England, after her father’s death. She is placed in the lowest class and assigned a dusty attic room, facing harsh treatment from the tyrannical headmistress, Ms. Desdemona. Chris befriends Jessica, a bold and resourceful student, who helps her navigate the school’s rigid rules and cruel punishments. Her mother’s keepsake, a mysterious key, becomes a source of hope as she endures the prison-like environment. Through her resilience and growing bonds with classmates, Chris begins to challenge the school’s injustices.