Sixteen-year-old Cass matures and develops emotionally due to the summer's responsibilities

To Cass Phillips, entering her senior year at Sandford High School, membership in the Calpurnias represents social success. But when Alicia, a dependent, insecure classmate, attaches herself to Cass, hope for membership seems dubious. Cass worries too about Adam, the boy whom she had dated before he left for college.