Why Can't I Be You: A Realistic Story About Summer Friendship and Identity for Kids (Ages 8-12)

“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.” —Elana K. Arnold, author of What Girls Are Made Of

"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)

Claire Ladd knows that this summer is going to be special. She and her two best friends, Ronan and Brianna, are turning twelve. She is leaving camp behind and gets to do what she wants all day. She feels everything starting to change.

But things don’t always change for the better.

With Brianna’s cousin Eden visiting for the summer, Claire feels like a third wheel. Even though she is only a year older, Eden seems so much more sophisticated and glamorous . . . and when she's around, she takes up everyone’s attention, including Brianna’s.

But that doesn’t explain why things have felt awkward with Brianna ever since she moved to a fancy new house, or why Ronan, who lives in the trailer next to Claire’s, has started acting moody anytime anyone mentions his dad.

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: Would everything be better if she could just be someone else?

• Changing Friendships: Claire, Ronan, and Brianna were inseparable. But this summer, a new house, a visiting cousin, and family secrets are testing their bond in ways they never expected.
• Feeling Left Out: When glamorous Eden arrives, Claire suddenly feels like a third wheel. Is there still room for her in Brianna’s new, more sophisticated life?
• Socioeconomic Differences: A poignant story that honestly explores the awkwardness and jealousy that can arise when one friend’s life in a trailer park is contrasted with another’s new mansion and pool.
• Finding Your Place: A perfect summer read for any kid who has ever felt “less than” or wondered if they would be happier living someone else’s life.

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.