Dawn Weiner is an awkward and unpopular seventh grader navigating the harsh realities of middle school in suburban New Jersey. She faces relentless bullying from her classmates, and her home life provides little solace. Her older brother Mark is a nerd engrossed in his studies and his garage band, while her younger sister Missy is the apple of their parents' eyes. Dawn struggles for attention and validation in a family that largely overlooks her. In a desperate bid to belong, she tries to connect with her classmate Steve Rogers, a handsome, older student and musician whom she idolizes.

As Dawn's attempts to fit in continue to fail, her world becomes increasingly complicated by her growing feelings of isolation and frustration. Her life takes unexpected turns when she befriends another social outcast named Ralphy Wiggins, but even this relationship brings its own set of challenges. With mounting pressures from both school and home, Dawn’s sense of identity and self-worth is continually tested. She experiences moments of fleeting optimism but often finds herself deeper in the emotional quagmire of adolescence, setting the stage for a poignant and difficult journey towards self-acceptance and resilience.