Rumpelstiltskin has taken over Fairy Tale Reform School, where Gilly's younger sister, Anna, has been sentenced, and Gilly must break in to save her.

Twelve-year-old Jonathan Grisby has been sent to the Slabhenge Reformatory School for Troubled Boys, a former lunatic asylum which is currently run by a sadist who enjoys punishing the boys and setting them against each other; but when a lightning strike kills all the adults the boys find themselves suddenly free--and trapped on Scar Island which seems to be sinking into the ocean.

Formerly dead Milton Fauster tries to save his older sister Marlo from "eternal darnation" when she is sent to another educational level of the Underworld reform school known as Heck.

Following sentencing in the court of Judge Judas, eleven-year-old Milton and his older sister Marlo find themselves in Precocia, the circle of Heck for kids that grow up too fast.

Gilly and her friends must prepare for a giant invasion after Jack plants magic beans, earning him a spot in Fairy Tale Reform School and reminding Gilly how good it feels to be bad.

When Mattie Larimore is sent to reform school he uncovers a creepy conspiracy, led by Headmaster Rooney, to fix all the problem children, including Mattie's brother--for good.

"Charlotte and Tobias make more strange discoveries as they attempt to escape the sinister Witherwood reform school"--

Eleven-year-old Milton Fauster puts aside his own escape plans to help his sister, Marlo, who is in training to be an underworld secretary, and his best friend, Virgil, who is stuck in the circle of Heck reserved for overweight children.