"The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" is a novel by Muriel Spark, whose books often touch on controversial subjects. In this novel, Miss Jean Brodie is the teacher at an all girls’ school, the Marcia Blaine School in Edinburgh, Scotland. The novel focuses on the teaching methodologies of Miss Brodie, which are the exact opposite of the other teachers in the junior and senior high school. Miss Brodie chooses a set of six girls to mold and mentor, and these girls are referred to as the "Brodie Set". The Brodie Set is comprised of Monica Douglas, Sandy Stranger, Rose Stanley, Jenny Gray and Mary Macgregor.

Miss Brodie is in a constant struggle with the headmistress, Miss Mackay, because Miss Brodie’s teaching methods are not in line with those Miss Mackay deems proper. In reality, while Miss Brodie does not teach the girls out of textbooks or according to school curricula, the girls of the Brodie set are the smartest girls in school.

Sandy finds herself struggling to sabotage Miss Brodie, but the novel’s narrative explains why Sandy feels the need to do this. Miss Brodie never guesses it is Sandy who betrays her because Miss Brodie actually believes Sandy is her closest confidante as Sandy grows into her teens and then into a woman. Only one of the other girls ever finds out it is Sandy who betrayed Miss Brodie to Miss Mackay. Subsequently, Miss Brodie is forced into retirement.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is a coming of age story about young women struggling to find out who they are and what motivates them during a time of uncertainty, puberty and changes in their lives.