Orphan Mary Katherine Gallagher, an ugly duckling at St. Monica High School, has a dream: to be kissed soulfully. She decides she can realize this dream if she becomes a superstar, so her prayers, fantasies, and conversations with her only friend focus on achieving super-stardom. Her big chance is a school talent contest but her main competition is Evian, the school beauty. She is dancing with Sky, the object of Mary Katherine's kiss dream. Mary Katherine gets some talent-show help from her fellow special education students, her grandma, and inspiration from secrets in her past.