The series features multiple guest stars each episode. The plot focuses on the character of Amy Juergens, a year-old who gets pregnant at band camp before entering high school. It explores how the pregnancy affects her, her peers, and her family. The pregnancy produces a son, John Juergens. In later seasons, after her younger sister starts high school, Amy finds how virtually everyone at school carries a secret or an unexpected problem.
Portrayed by Shailene Woodley , Amy gets pregnant by student Ricky Underwood after a one-night stand at band camp before her freshman year of high school.
At the beginning of the series, she is 15 years old. Upon entering high school, Amy begins a relationship with Ben Boykewich also 15 , a supportive classmate with whom she falls in love. She confesses her pregnancy to her two best friends, Madison and Lauren, who accidentally spread the gossip that Amy had sex with Ricky. During this time, Amy's year-old sister Ashley discovers her pregnancy due to Amy's recent weight gain and erratic behavior, but promises to keep her secret from their parents.
Ben proposes to Amy after finding out, because he genuinely loves her, and feels he would be a better father than Ricky due to his family's financial stability. After Amy tells her parents, she contemplates having an abortion , as she is afraid of her peers' perceptions.
She changes her mind, but is still adamant about not returning to school. Ricky reaches out to Amy during this time, saying that he wants to be involved with what happens to the baby. Amy plans to go live with her grandmother Mimsy, but is unable to go after discovering that Mimsy is suffering from Alzheimer's disease , and is moving into assisted care living.
