Kirby Steinberg is having a bit of trouble fitting into her new school. Sure, there's the usual interest/antagonism associated with being from "somewhere else," but this time the new kid also happens to be the guardian for three talking monkeys: Chuck, the professorial orangutan; Knobby the love-stricken spider monkey; and Go-Go, the befuddled golden gorilla. These monkeys have learned to speak, thanks to the scientific processes of Kirby's father. Or have they? What's their real story? That's what Nickels - Kirby's new best friend and unfortunately dedicated school reporter - would like to discover. Can Kirby find time to develop a relationship with Martin, the dashing nerd; steer clear of Skye, the high school's No.1 pocket of arrogance; keep the three simians from causing untold catastrophes; and, above all, will Kirby be able to hide the real origin of these three monkeys from Nickels? Oh, probably not.