Why Can't I Be You

March 1, 2018

Gr 4-7-When Claire Ladd overhears her friend Ronan's joke, "You know you live in a trailer park when...," she is knocked senseless. She and Ronan both know very well what trailer park life is like, as they both live in one. During the summer before turning 12, Claire's world sees an earthquake of changes, shaking her once simplistic life to near shambles. When her best friend Brianna moves into a mansion, complete with a pool and basement theater, the two begin to notice the major differences between them. Next, Eden, Brianna's older cousin, waltzes into town like a runway model with style, perfectly pink lips, and amazing hair, threatening not just Claire's self-confidence but also her friendships. 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. VERDICT Realistic fiction set in a trailer park is unusual; many kids will see themselves reflected in Claire and Ronan. Recommended for most collections, especially where contemporary, realistic coming-of-age stories are needed.-Mary-Brook J. Townsend, The McGillis School, Salt Lake City

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2018
Everything feels different the summer Claire and her friends turn 12. It's weird enough that Brianna has moved to a fancy new house with a pool. But Brianna's cousin Eden, who's visiting for the summer, seems to be nudging them toward a level of sophistication, and Claire doesn't understand the rules. Eden wears eyeliner! She friends boys on social media. And now, for the first time, Brianna's birthday party is a boy-girl party. It's not like Claire doesn't know boys--she's been tight with next-door neighbor Ronan in their trailer park for years! But he's different, too. Suddenly he's on social media trying to make his life look different--better--than it is. Trouble is, Claire didn't know it was so bad! Claire's voice is infectiously honest and optimistic as she navigates a host of new feelings, including uncertainly and jealousy. She's observant; she also has down-to-earth, caring, and involved, if imperfect, parents. They help Claire understand what's the matter with Ronan's father and make her more open to hearing the concerns Brianna and Eden have. Their breakthrough conversation is a great recipe for all preteens developing their emotional intelligence. Claire and most of the cast are default white, but Eden, who is mixed, must explain why she looks different from Brianna on one occasion. Other cultures are indicated by surnames.A fully wrapped-up, happy ending concludes both summer and book without compromising its emotional honesty. (Fiction. 9-12)

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Starred review from June 4, 2018
Money changes everything, or at least it seems that way, in Walker’s (Let’s Pretend We Never Met) heartfelt, honest look at how three pals assess the cost of appearances and the value of friendship. Claire believes her summer before seventh grade is going to be epic. She’s finally deemed old enough to be on her own at Twin Pines Trailer Park while her mother works. But her friend Ronan has been acting different ever since his father returned home, and her other best friend, Brianna, has settled into a big new house in a ritzy neighborhood and is hosting her glamorous cousin. Claire feels left out and jealous, and until now, she has never doubted her friends or felt embarrassed about where she lives. It’s only when Ronan goes missing that Claire realizes what it means to be a true friend. With a clear, compelling voice, Walker creates a believable world where socioeconomic tensions challenge, but never defeat, her well-rounded characters. The young protagonists convey the anxiety, awkwardness, and first glints of maturity that come with being almost 12, and Claire’s caring parents offer a steadfast support that help anchor the story in its satisfying, happy ending. Ages 8–12. Agent: Douglas Stewart, Sterling Lord Literistic.

April 1, 2018
Grades 4-7 It's the summer before seventh grade when, reportedly, everything changes. But for not-quite-12-year-old Claire, painful changes have already begun, particularly within her two longtime friendships. In the trailer next door, Ronan seems off-balance and withdrawn since the return of his father, whose depression casts a shadow over his wife and son. And Brianna, whose wealthy family has recently moved to a large house, seems more distant after the arrival of her beautiful, biracial cousin. Claire's divorced but stable parents are a steadying influence as she navigates her first boy-girl party, experiences jealousy, and figures out what it takes to be a friend. Written in Claire's voice, the story vividly captures the off-kilter expectations and emotions that arise during the awkward shift from childhood to the teen years. With good dialogue and use of details, the writing offers believable portrayals of the three main characters, each facing different challenges and responding in individual ways. Claire's concerns about her friends are resolved only after a realistic amount of reflection, good will, and effort. A satisfying chapter book.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)