Fourteen-year-old Elisa Mathers is a middle-class, African-American teen who dreams of college and escaping small-town life. For now, though, she has to worry about avoiding school bullies and surviving high school. Because she is labeled an "Oreo" at school, Elisa has few friends, and she is often the main target of the clique, Parfait, and its leader, Correne. What makes matters worse is that Elisa's ex-best friend, Rachel, has joined Parfait, and Elisa still feels the sting of betrayal. Even so, Elisa tries to look forward to ninth grade, but after her first run-in with Correne, she realizes nothing has changed. Later, when another middle-class, African-American teen, Scott, moves to town, Elisa believes she has found a true friend, but her relationship with Scott soon complicates her friendship with her friend, Jen, a working-class African-American. Soon, Elisa has to confront herself and answer the hard question, "Am I a wannabe?"
