Part 1, Chapter 1 Summary

As the novel opens, high school senior Maggie Tobin tells her friend, Liz Carstensen, that another classmate asked in Miss Fanuzzi's biology class about how to stop a boy if he wants to go all the way. Maggie was not satisfied with Miss Fanuzzi's answer, declaring that Miss Fanuzzi is a technical biological expert but is limited in real life experience with men. Maggie and Liz are making their way to the auditorium where Mr. Zamborsky, the senior class advisor, is holding an assembly on the topics of Senior Day, the prom and graduation.

Soon the meeting is turned over to class president Pierre Jefferson, who opens the topic of the prom. Maggie's spirits drop as she is faced with the reality that she will not be attending the event because she knows that no boy finds her attractive enough to...