Mean Girls

Sixteen-year-old homeschooled Cady Heron and her parents, Betsy and Chip Heron, return to the United States after a lengthy research trip in Africa, settling in Evanston, Illinois as Betsy has been offered tenure at Northwestern University. On her first day at North Shore High School, Cady attempts to make new friends, but to no avail. The next day, she befriends outsiders Janis Ian and Damian Leigh. They tell Cady about the school's various cliques and warn her to avoid the "Plastics", composed of the wealthy but insecure Gretchen Wieners, the sweet but dimwitted Karen Smith, and led by "queen bee" Regina George. Janis holds a grudge against Regina after a previous incident in middle school but refuses to divulge details. The Plastics verbally defend Cady against a perverted classmate, thereafter taking an interest in her, and inviting her to sit with them at lunch. After learning about the invitation, Janis persuades Cady to befriend the Plastics and spy on them for her, which Cady is reluctant to do.