Beauty Cookson is plain and timid, and all the super-confident and snooty girls at school think her name is ridiculous and tease her horribly. Worse than the taunting in the playground, though, is her father's constant, hurtful criticism. Beauty and her mum live in fear of Dad's fierce rages - sparked off when they break on of his fussy house rules or suggest something 'silly' like getting a pet. But Beauty's mum adores her, and does her best to keep beauty happy despite all the tension and shouting. After beauty's disastrous birthday party, Dad's temper seems to be out of control. Are Mum and Beauty brave enough to leave and start a sweeter new life.