Why Can't I Be You

Description: Claire Ladd and her two best friends, Ronan and Brianna, are turning 12 this summer. Claire has always been happy with her life just as it is, but as the summer wears on and the issues with her friends start to grow, she can't help but wonder if everything be better if she could just be someone else.

Brief description:

Melissa Walker grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and is the author of eight young adult novels, including the Violet on the Runway series and Small Town Sinners. In the nonfiction world, she is a magazine editor and writer who works from the comfort of coffee shops in Brooklyn, where she lives with her husband and two young daughters. Find Melissa on Twitter @melissacwalker or visit www.melissacwalker.com.

Review Quotes:

"This book is for anyone who has ever felt "less than" or on the outside... that is to say, this is a book for everyone. Gentle, layered, and big-hearted, Why Can't I Be You is a beautiful portrait of the complexities of families and friends." - Elana K. Arnold, author of What Girls Are Made Of

"The story vividly captures the off-kilter expectations and emotions that arise during the awkward shift from childhood to the teen years." - Booklist

"Claire's voice is infectiously honest and optimistic as she navigates a host of new feelings, including uncertainly and jealousy...a great recipe for all preteens developing their emotional intelligence." - Kirkus Reviews

"Walker vividly describes trailer park life, showing the good with the bad, from Ronan's dysfunctional father to the beauty and strength of the close relationships created in Twin Pines Trailer Park." - School Library Journal

"With a clear, compelling voice, Walker creates a believable world where socioeconomic tensions challenge, but never defeat, her well-rounded characters." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)