Bobby Goodspeed is a soft-spoken 7th grader who survives his mixed-up preadolescent life with the unwavering support of his three best friends: the outspoken Addie, the flamoyant Joe, and the tough Skeezie. Everything changes when Addie decides that the four of them should run against more popular peers in the upcoming student council election. But her lofty ideals and rabble-rousing speeches make the wrong kind of waves, offending fellow classmates, teachers and the principal. It is not until softer-spoken Bob-by says what's in his heart about nicknames and taunts that people begin to listen and take notice, granting their respect for them. The original production ran 70 minutes. (There is another version of the script for a larger youth cast and that script runs 90 minutes)

In 2004, the book inspired GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing created a national No-Name Calling Week. The project seeks to focus national attention on the problem of name-calling in schools, and to provide students and educators with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate name-calling in their communities.