Election fever is rampant at Handford High. But why should Mickey Sharp care? He's about as interested in school politics as he is in French lessons. Then he gets a new client. Carl Marks is standing for election as head boy. He might not win the 'cool' vote but even Mickey has to admit his policies sound sensible - less homework, more freedom, etc. But Carl thinks someone is trying to sabotage his campaign and he wants to Mickey to find out who and why. Mickey's investigations introduce him to Nicola Cohen - the tough yet vulnerable star journalist on the school paper (which Mickey's never bothered to read before). She seems to be Mickey's main ally, until he suspects a major political sell-out. Soon a tangled plot is played out against a background of smoke-filled rooms, last-minute negotiation and enough spin to impress Alistair Campbell. When Sharp returns, and the ballots are counted, a mystery is bound to unravel.