After escaping from the awful Mr and Mrs Nicompoop, Rita sets off on a long, long journey back to Africa where her parents lived, and where they had been captured. On the way, she has a few scary moments where she has to think quickly to stay out of danger. But she is helped on her way by several acts of kindness – from humans and from other birds and animals – and she makes some good friends. This teaches her a lot about the world and about herself.