Maya Garrison emerges as a child exhibiting significant behavioral challenges, including aggression like kicking a ball into another child's face and refusing to apologize, coupled with exhausting disobedience for her mother. This stems partly from unresolved trauma after her father's death and her mother's remarriage, which intensifies her acting out.

Her mother seeks a witch's guidance, receiving a magical copy of "Thumbelina." When read this book, Maya shrinks and enters a dream world based on the story, simultaneously her mother's subconscious. A witch there informs Maya that returning home requires waking her mother, necessitating a journey to find the Crystal Prince in a southern land.

Maya confronts numerous adversities throughout her journey:
- Coerced marriage proposals, first from a frog named Hoppy (pressured by his parents) and later from the manipulative Mr. Mora, who deceives her, threatens her friends, and subjects her to brainwashing via a memory-erasing flower.
- Life-threatening situations involving allies, such as antagonists orchestrating Hoppy's near-fatal accidents and the apparent dissolution or death of her companion Noble—a sugar fairy who melts in water or is swallowed whole yet survives.
- Psychological trials, including nightmares where sentient flowers accuse her of failing Noble as he melts into formlessness, reflecting her internal fears and guilt.

These experiences catalyze Maya's transformation. Initially self-centered and defiant, she gradually develops empathy, selflessness, and resilience. Key moments include tearfully expressing remorse for past actions while missing her mother and ultimately demonstrating compassion by saving the antagonist Cassandra from falling. Her allies—Noble, Hoppy, and the witch Angela—support her, while adversaries like Mr. Mora and Cassandra test her resolve.

By journey's end, Maya successfully awakens her mother, returning to the real world with a reformed demeanor, having internalized lessons about responsibility and kindness.