Chapters (68)
- Cover
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- One
- Two
- Chapter One
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Chapter Two
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Chapter Three
- Ten
- Eleven
- Chapter Four
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Chapter Five
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Chapter Six
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Chapter Seven
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Chapter Eight
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Chapter Nine
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Chapter Ten
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Chapter Eleven
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Chapter Twelve
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Chapter Thirteen
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Chapter Fourteen
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Chapter Fifteen
- The Following Summer
- About the Author
- About the Publisher
“In my old school, I tried to act like everyone else to get along. But it’s not working here. Emily says I don’t have opinions of my own. Murray and Cassie only like me when I do what they want me to do. They got mad at me because I didn’t look happy during their presentation. But I was upset because they didn’t choose me to play their stupid Jeopardy game. And I’ve been so busy learning to be a Copycat that I haven’t kept up with my schoolwork. I didn’t help Emily with our project and I did a terrible job of presenting to the class. And today I lost my temper at Alfie because he won’t come to your party—”
“My goodness! That is a litany of woes! What do your problems have in common?”
“I don’t know.”
“I think you do. They have YOU in common.”
Ali was not liking this conversation at all.
“But it’s hard to be a Copycat and a new kid!”
“It is. But it sounds like you haven’t been honest with people about the real you.”
“The real me? You and Digger don’t tell people that you’re Copycats.”
Gigi held up a bony finger. “It’s not the same thing. We choose not to tell most people something that is very personal about ourselves. Everybody is entitled to have a personal life, Ali, even Copycats. Do any of your friends know about your powers?”
“Just Murray and Cassie.”
“Have they told anyone?”
“No . . .”
“So, you’re telling me they have been loyal to you but you haven’t returned the favor?”
Ali didn’t like the way that sounded.
“When you change just to impress people, whether you’re a Copycat or not, you’re not being true to yourself.”
Ali let that sink in. “I don’t even know who I am,” she whispered. “I’ve been the new kid so many times I’ve had to be like everybody else to fit in.”
For the first time, Gigi sounded sympathetic when she responded. “What’s happened to you isn’t fair. You’ve paid a price for your father’s pain.”
Ali didn’t know what that meant, but she decided it was time to come clean about everything. “I went to see Andrew Sloane.”
Gigi nodded. “I knew you would. You’re a sweet girl, trying to fix something that isn’t your responsibility to fix.”
“I should have told you and Digger before I went. I’m sorry. He’s not coming.”
“Andy is doing what he thinks is right. And he’s right about me. I failed Teddy, and not just because I bought him that boat.”
“I don’t understand.”