Caroline Turner is a well-mannered, ordinary 12 year-old girl who is having an extraordinary day full of challenges. After tossing and turning most of the night because she is worried about her parents getting divorced, she encounters a series of unpleasant events, including oversleeping and missing the bus. Ultimately, she winds up in detention after an encounter with a bully that led to a fight at recess. At home, she finds no sanctuary as she’s shuttled off to her father’s cold, dreary, den to contemplate her actions. Angered by the circumstances surrounding her punishment, plus her sister’s constant teasing, Caroline discovers a folder full of student papers on her father’s desk. He’s a 5th grade teacher whose class has written anonymous essays that detail painful issues in their lives. Through the many issues revealed in the letters and with the help of concerned friends, Caroline gains wisdom, a better understanding of others’ lives, and a greater appreciation of her own life. By the end of the musical, her awful day becomes an awesome day…and the only thing that changed was her perspective.