When shy sixteen-year-old SONYA GARRISON is accepted into the prestigious Bridgeton academy, she hopes to just blend into the background and escape high school without too much emotional trauma. For awhile, her plan works. She is such a social outcast that no one even knows her name. She is usually mistaken for her beautiful, brilliant, and perfect older sister, SASHA GARRISON.

Sonya and Sasha are two black teenagers raised in one of the worst neighborhoods in New Jersey and possibly the country, Venton Heights. They often go to bed to the sound of gun shots or wondering where their next meal will come from. Sasha protects her younger sister from the dangers of living in the projects and does everything she can to take care of her.

Through sheer determination, they both get accepted to the elite Bridgeton Academy. Sasha receives an academic scholarship and Sonya receives a dance scholarship.

Sasha immediately gets acclimated to the predominately white school and becomes one of the most popular students there. Sonya, however, is either ignored or ridiculed. The only time the students at Bridgeton realize she exists is when she is caught in the embarrassing and awkward situations that seem to occur too frequently.

The only place Sonya makes a name for herself is at her dance studio where she is the prima ballerina. She is so determined to one day be a famous ballerina that she cleans the studio in exchange for lessons. Her dance ability happens to attract the attention of WILL MADDOX, Bridgeton's white star basketball player, who asks her to his senior prom.

Sonya's relationship with Will suddenly casts her into world she is unfamiliar with and unprepared for: Popularity. Sparked by jealousy and racism, the Bitch Brigade, made up of the three most vicious girls in school, seek to put Sonya back in her 'place'. Can she defeat the reigning high school royalty? Or will they succeed in ruining her lifelong dream of becoming a world class dancer?