Abby (named the “prettiest” freshman) waits for school to begin at a popular spot on campus grounds called Freshman Island. She thinks about her older sister, Fern, whom she considers nerdy and unsophisticated. Abby’s best friend, Lisa Honeycutt, arrives and excitedly says that Abby has been named the prettiest freshman on the annual list. Abby is thrilled by the news and the sudden attention from her friends and nearby boys.

Lisa also reveals that her older sister, Bridget, was named prettiest junior. As they head inside to find a copy of the list, Lisa mentions the jokes written under each name. She tells Abby that the comment under her name congratulates her for “overcoming family genetics” (15), a clear insult directed at Fern. Worried, Abby asks if Fern was named ugliest but learns that it was another girl. After seeing her own name on the list, Abby watches Fern walk past, completely ignoring her. Abby then carefully removes a copy of the list from a bulletin board to keep as a souvenir.

Danielle (named the “ugliest” freshman) misses the school bus after staying up late talking to her boyfriend, Andrew. She manages to chase the bus down and get on. At school, an older boy slaps her on the back and calls her “Dan the Man” (22). Confused, Danielle and her best friend, Hope, soon find a copy of the list posted on a vending machine and see that Danielle has been named the ugliest freshman, with the “Dan the Man” nickname printed below.

Devastated, Danielle becomes self-conscious about her athletic build and messy hair. She and Hope begin frantically tearing down every copy of the list they can find. Their efforts are interrupted when they run into Andrew and his sophomore football friends, who mockingly call Danielle “Dan the Man” and joke about gay rights. Andrew pulls Danielle aside and advises her to act unaffected, warning that a big reaction could ruin the rest of her high-school experience. Taking his advice, Danielle stops tearing down the lists and tells a confused Hope to forget it.

Candace (named the “ugliest” sophomore) fully expected to be named prettiest in her grade. She’s shocked and humiliated to find her name on the “ugliest” side of the list. The comment beneath her name implies that she has a bad personality. Her friends offer no real defense and seem uncomfortable.

When her friends try to change the subject to planning for the homecoming Spirit Caravan, Candace feels alienated and pathetic for having to bait them for support. After they leave, she examines her reflection in her locker mirror, feeling like her face seems “imbalanced.” She realizes that she forgot to apply eyeliner to one eye, which none of her friends pointed out. Despite the list, she reassures herself that her external beauty is what truly matters.

Lauren (named the “prettiest” sophomore) is new to Mount Washington High after being homeschooled her entire life. She feels anxious and lonely at her new school. On the drive to school, Lauren comforts her mother, who’s nervous about a job interview, as their family is in a difficult financial situation following her grandfather’s death.

In her empty homeroom, Lauren feels isolated. She observes a group of girls, Candace’s friends, whispering excitedly. One of them approaches Lauren and, speaking slowly as if to a foreigner, ceremoniously places a copy of the list on her notebook. The girls congratulate her for being named the prettiest sophomore and advise her to look happier about it.

Sarah (named the “ugliest” junior) waits for her friend Milo Ishi at their usual bench. She plans to end their friendship over an unspecified betrayal from the night before. A group of junior girls nearby are laughing hysterically over a piece of paper. Annoyed, Sarah throws her cigarette butt at them. In retaliation, they drop the paper in her lap—it’s the list. Sarah is named the ugliest junior, with a comment further deriding her looks.

Milo arrives, unaware of the school tradition, and tries to comfort Sarah by burning the list. To defy the judgment and reclaim the label, Sarah insists that Milo use a black marker to write the word “UGLY” in large letters across her forehead. As they walk through the school hallways, however, she discovers that her act of rebellion has an unintended effect: Instead of confronting her, the other students quickly look away, making her feel not just ugly but also invisible.

Bridget (named the “prettiest” junior) drives her freshman sister, Lisa, to school. A flashback reveals that over the summer, Bridget developed an eating disorder after a distressing experience trying on a bikini that was too small. She spent the vacation severely restricting her food and lost a significant amount of weight.

At school, Bridget’s friends excitedly tell her that she has been named the prettiest junior. Upon reading the comment noting that others noticed her weight loss over the summer, implying that becoming skinnier made her prettier, she feels a confusing mix of validation and guilt. The praise confirms her belief that she needed to lose weight, but she also knows her methods were unhealthy. Overwhelmed, she goes to buy a bagel from a student-council sale but finds herself unable to eat. In the privacy of her homeroom, she pulls out the doughy insides and throws most of the bagel in the trash.

As Jennifer (named the “ugliest” senior) walks to her locker, she overhears classmates speculating about how she will react to being on the list for a fourth consecutive year. The chapter recounts her past reactions: a messy, public reaction her freshman year; quiet sadness her sophomore year; and a detached, humorous acceptance her junior year.

Jennifer has learned that being a “good sport” earns her a strange form of acceptance. When a copy of the list falls from her locker, she decides to put on a show. She feigns ecstatic surprise, performing jumping jacks and drumming on her locker. The students, relieved she isn’t making a scene, erupt in applause. Jennifer then skips down the hall, high-fiving her classmates and embracing her unique status as the school’s most legendary “ugly” girl.

The new principal, Ms. Colby, stops Margo (named the “prettiest” senior) in the hall and questions her about the list, condemning the tradition and implying that Margo might know who’s behind it. Margo denies any knowledge.

Later, in the cafeteria, Margo sits with her friends, including Rachel Potchak, Dana Hassan, and a boy named Matthew, with whom she shares a mutual attraction. Her friends discuss Sarah’s and Jennifer’s reactions to the list. Feeling sorry for Jennifer, Rachel impulsively invites her to sit at their table. Margo is visibly uncomfortable with this, as it brings back drama from her freshman year. The interaction is awkward, with Jennifer acting overly cheerful while Margo remains distant.

Following the school day, Danielle heads to a mandatory meeting in Principal Colby’s office. All eight girls from the list have been summoned. The office is tense and crowded.

Principal Colby begins the meeting by declaring that they’re all victims. She encourages them to talk about their feelings, but her attempt to foster unity fails immediately. Candace bitterly remarks that the “prettiest” girls had a great day. Margo and Jennifer dismiss the list as unimportant, while Sarah accuses the principal of forcing them into group therapy. The meeting dissolves without resolution.