By setting the story in a middle school, the landscape provides natural sources for plot devices in the kid versus kid conflict, kids versus adults in power conflict, and kids versus themselves internal conflict. Jackson Greene and his crew set out to pull off a monumental heist and steal back the class election from Keith Sinclair, all the while dealing with the real-life struggles of an adolescent, such as the search for belonging, romantic entanglements, and self-doubt.

Maplewood Students are still young but exude a burgeoning sense of their transition to fully fledged young adults. Lynne notes, “Last year we were children […] We’re older now. More sophisticated. We’re practically women” (8). Jackson and his classmates gripe about the lunchroom food quality, but they are also concerned about fair representation on the Student Council, ensuring their beloved clubs receive the necessary funds to operate. Keith harbors a grudge over a basketball match, yet he also bullies Victor Cho by flushing his homework down the toilet. A student council election may appear frivolous, but to the middle school students, everything is amplified, including the onset of romantic feelings.