It's January, summer in Boonelg, and just before school starts back for teenage fugly Jennie Cragg the hunk of her grade, Nick Lazzarri, returns from being in a juvenile detention facility. Jennie has always had a huge crush on Nick and decides that, seeing as this is her last year at Boonelg High, this is the year she has to become 'cool' and make a move. She dyes her fringe blonde and buys a whole bain marie of mini pizzas for Nick from the school canteen but she is no match for the school's head skank Tracy Hooker.

For Jennie and her friends, Amy Lee and Nigella, the maths Olympiad is the highlight of their academic calendar.