Born to a crass, neglectful family, a brilliant and compassionate young girl discovers she possesses extraordinary telekinetic powers. Her parents, more interested in swindling and mindless television than in their daughter's intellect, barely notice her existence, let alone her burgeoning abilities or the mistreatment she endures at home. Despite this, the girl's intelligence and curiosity about the world never wane; instead, they lead her to find solace in books, through which she escapes into realms of knowledge and adventure.

When she begins attending school, the girl meets a kindred spirit in her teacher Miss Honey, who recognizes and fosters her student's prodigious talents. However, the school is overshadowed by the tyrannical headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, a former Olympic hammer-thrower with a sadistic streak and a deep disdain for children. Under these oppressive circumstances, the young girl's abilities flourish, and she soon learns she might have the power to change her own destiny and that of those around her.