About This Book
Reach for this book when your child starts comparing their life to others and feels like they come up short. It is a perfect choice for the pre-teen who uses bravado or tall tales to mask deep-seated insecurities about their family or financial status. The story follows Erica Yurken, a girl who prides herself on being the smartest in her working-class school, until the polished and wealthy Alison Ashley arrives to threaten her status. Through Erica's hilarious and often cringey internal monologue, the book explores how jealousy can make us act like our worst selves. While Erica is a difficult protagonist at times, her journey toward self-acceptance is deeply relatable for any child navigating the social hierarchies of middle school. It offers a gentle way to discuss class differences, the pressure to be perfect, and how the people we 'hate' are often the ones we most want to befriend.
