Mandy Small has trouble writing so Cat, her teacher, suggests that she tells her life story into a tape recorder. So begins Mandy's funny, and sometimes sad, story of life with her loving but irresponsible parents--Dad, the Elvis look-alike, and Mum, whose idea of a special meal is burnt toast. Then there is school, where the horrible Tracey Bigg picks on Mandy and her timid friend Oliver--not to mention Old Misery Guts, the landlady, and Nan, who thinks that Mandy's parents aren't fit to look after her. With so many things to worry about, Mandy begins to think that she is in danger of turning into a real fruit and nutcase.