`Braceface' takes a refreshingly light look at junior high challenges.(The Dallas Morning News)

The kids in "Braceface," a new animated show featuring the voice of "Clueless's" Alicia Silverstone, might be exaggerations of the real thing _ the operative word being might.

Poor Sharon Spitz, an eighth-grader with brand new braces and a faltering pubescent ego, can't seem to generate the cool she yearns for. Her life revolves around learning to deal with her family, her friends Maria and Conner, her heartthrob-from-afar and her nemesis, the predictably perfect, popular cheerleader.

In last week's premiere episode, Sharon, Maria and Conner talked about their prospects for Saturday's school dance. Sharon sighs to her friends, "I'm still waiting for Alden Jones to ask me."

"I don't get it," Maria says. "You have a mouth, don't you? Why don't you use it?"

If only all kids could have friends like Maria.

Much to everyone's surprise, Alden comes to Sharon's table in the cafeteria and asks her to the dance. This part is clearly unbelievable. Here's an eighth-grade boy with social graces, self-confidence and charm. Sharon accepts, of course, only to find out after school that her life is ruined because that day, after school, she gets braces.

Sharon's nemesis, Nina Harper, also has her eye on Alden and won't take no for an answer. "Oh my God, Sharon Spitz got braces," Nina gloats the next day.