Della Dupree has the so-called honor of being named after the legendary founder of the prestigious witchcraft school, Ruthersfield Academy. Her namesake left incredibly big shoes to fill, and most days, Della doesn't feel like she's up to the task. No matter how hard she tries, Della's magic seems middling, her spells sad, and her charms not so charming. Deep down, Della feels she will never do the academy founder proud.

Then one morning Della is in the library early to work on her spells before class. Thinking about her name again, she finds herself chanting, "Twelve twenty-three, twelve twenty-three, Ruthersfield was founded by Witch Dupree." But the open closet of time travel amulets nearby means her careless words have serious consequences. A mysterious wind gusts through the library and sweeps Della back to the year 1223. She ends up alone in a strange time with no idea how to get back home.

Della has never had much confidence in her magic, but left with no choice, she must use her spells and ingenuity to find her way back across the centuries--and maybe finally feel she's earned her name.