Isabel Blossoms is an extremely imaginative twelve-year-old who attends The Lost School located in The Magical Woods in Folden Township, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. She is excited about helping Miss Post who is the young schoolteacher hired to replace Mr. Leonard. When Miss Post starts to teach, it is obvious to Isabel that she is doing everything wrong. Isabel tries to correct her mistakes, but much to her disappointment, Miss Post doesn't listen to Isabel. The ensuing excursions in The Magical Woods lead to Isabel's disgrace. However, even when everyone else thinks Isabel is a phony she doesn't give up. She is determined to solve the mystery of The Magical Woods.