Kathryn is a teenage anorexic. Seething over being placed in an institution by her mother, Kathryn conspires with her fellow patients—Audrey, Hope, Phillip, Emily, and Liza—to thwart the staff's attempts to treat their "problem." Kathryn copes with her mounting frustration over anger, denial, and depression by matching wits with Dr. Bickman, medical student Tom, and nurses Barbie and Rose Ann. A series of events eventually forces Kathryn to confront her medical situation. The result is a searing catharsis out of which Kathryn achieves a rapprochement with her mother and an inner peace with herself.