Vada Sultenfuss is enthusiastic about passing. Her mother is dead, and a funeral parlor runs. She joins a poetry class within the summer simply to impress him, also is also deeply in love with her English teacher. Thomas J., her very best friend, is"allergic to all", also sticks together with Vada despite her hang ups. When Vada's daddy hires Shelly, also begins to fall on her, matters take a turn towards the worse...