Maggie March is a 10-year-old girl who is being forced to move to a new place and start a new school by her mother. At Maggie's last school she was harshly bullied for her struggles with reading and writing. She feels that things will never get better and the new school will be even worse than her last one. As Maggie starts her new school, her greatest fear comes true. She continues to struggle with reading and writing, and the other children make fun of her, proving to her that nothing will ever get better. The school's guidance counsellor requests to meet with her. He discusses her past with bullying and her struggles and acknowledges her talent with art and encourages her to pursue her passions. The counsellor conducts some tests with Maggie to help understand why she struggles.