Like most of Sachs's books, the story takes place in an ordinary setting, a high school that could be found anywhere. Jeff, handsome, cocky, and unmotivated, is trying to avoid taking an algebra class from a teacher who has a reputation for being tough. Instead, he opts for something easy, and takes pottery, even though he has no particular interest in the subject. The ceramic class, however, offers more than Jeff expects because he meets Norma Jenkins there, and he promptly falls in love with her. At first, Norma returns his interest, and the romance goes well.

At home, things are less happy as Jeff is dominated by his bored and lonely divorced mother who has managed so far to destroy all of his relationships with girls. Pottery class is also the place where Jeff comes across the fat girl, Ellen, and it is Ellen who unwittingly interferes...