Steph Landry has been the target of jokes since sixth grade when she spilt a red Super Big Gulp on Lauren Moffat's white D&G skirt.

As time has passed people have forgotten both the incident and the individual, but the phrase is widely used in the small town.

Steph has since been content to hang out with her best friends Jason and Becca, also social outcasts, but as she enters the eleventh grade, she wants more out of high school.

Luckily, she finds a copy of an old book titled none other than How to be Popular while cleaning out Jason's grandmother's attic.

Steph does not anticipate Lauren's anger at her sudden rise in popularity, or Jason's confusion and shock at her behaviour.

A minor plot arch of the impending wedding of Jason's grandmother and Steph's grandfather.

Other themes include romance (and the idea of The One), sexuality, parental irresponsibility, friendship, and finance.

- VOYA[2][better source needed] "A heartwarming, funny tale" - The Daily Telegraph[3] New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age Award [4]