Summary

The novel is narrated by Lydia Chass, the main character, in first-person present. In Chapter 1, Lydia meets with her new guidance counselor, Mrs. Pascale, who tells her that she does not have enough history credits to graduate. Lydia Chass lives in a small, rural town, but her father is a lawyer, and she wants to attend a first-class journalism school. Principal Walton comes into the room and Lydia fumes at both of them, then berates the old guidance counselor, Mr. Benson, for being an alcoholic who had potentially ruined her future. Neither Mrs. Pascale nor the principal wants to cause a scene, so they promise Lydia that she can make up the credit by doing an independent project.

In Chapter 2, Lydia tells her best friend, Kenzie, that she is going to revamp her podcast, On the Ground in Flyover Country, for the project...