Plot summary

Her parents being zoologists, Cady Heron has never known what "high school" truly meant. She lived her first 15 years in the African jungle, home-schooled, living life with only her parents and the animals of the wilderness, knowing all the rules of survival. But when she leaves Africa, she has to learn the rules of high school, which is a jungle in itself. It doesn't take long before she meets two sweet teenagers, Damian and Janis. But in terms of high school they are known as the "out crowd." Soon she meets the Plastics, the three crude, beautiful, popular girls, consisting of Regina, the unofficial leader, Gretchen, who would do anything for Regina, and Karen, "one of the dumbest people you will ever meet." After just a few minutes they let her into their group, but Cady wants to keep her first friends and isn't really sure. But Damien and Janis think it might be fun to play a game with the Plastics, so they convince Cady to keep her relationship with them, only to learn all their darkest secrets and then laugh at them. Things do not go as planned when Cady falls in love with Regina's ex-boyfriend Aaron. When Regina finds out, she seeks revenge on Cady by taking Aaron back. What began as a game to discover secrets turns into a plan to destroy Regina, as Cady, Janis, and Damian plot together to bring Regina's status down. However, as Cady spends more time with the Plastics, she, too, begins to become one.—Michelle K. P.