Originally published in hardcover by Delacorte Press, the book follows Esme Pearl, an edgy, social justice-fixated teenager, and her friends as they team up to fight a latent evil descending upon their suburban American town.

The book received mixed to negative reviews from critics, owing largely to what was viewed as excessive political commentary, outdated slang and the abrasive personality of the protagonist.

[1] Esme Pearl is a nonconformist and suburban Kansas teenager who heads a babysitting club to avoid the prospect of obtaining a paid job, which she finds "gross", and also to earn money to pay back a variety of people for various incidents, including the destruction of a tree.

This leads to concern that Esme herself might suffer from the same issues when strange occurrences happen around her, such as a drink spilling on a "chauvinist" in the school cafeteria and a bully being harmed in gym class.

Esme is surprised when Cassandra Heaven, who is physically attractive, a rebel and a grungy dresser, shows interest in joining the club.