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
Ali wanted to ask her mother what she was going to say, but she could tell from Digger’s red face that it was a bad idea to ask that question right now.
It was Gigi who changed the subject. “With the three of us helping her, Ali will be the most talented Copycat of all.”
Her mother leaned in to Ali and kissed her hair. “You’re right, Gigi. Let’s order some pizza and then get started. We’ll make it a celebration! You know what Maya says: ‘If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.’ This will be awesome, sweetie.”
Pizza was ordered with extra pepperoni—Ali’s favorite—and the dinner conversation was animated and jolly. It would have been fun, except for one thing: it felt like they were pretending to be happy to make Ali feel normal. But she wasn’t normal.
Gigi raised her glass. “A toast to Ali! Welcome to the world of Copycats! Time to train!”
Ali clinked everyone’s glass and prayed she was a better Copycat than she was a debater.
Sixteen
Even though the thermostat in Gigi’s bedroom was set to a balmy eighty-five, Ali couldn’t stop shivering. She had no idea what was about to happen. What if she couldn’t change again? Or worse . . . what if she shouldn’t stop changing?
Gigi sat on her bed with her back resting against the headboard. Ali was stationed at the opposite end. Ali’s mother was downstairs cleaning up the kitchen and would join them soon. Meanwhile, Digger paced. Several minutes passed before he paused and spoke to Ali.
“You get to choose who or what you turn into tonight. When I was learning how to use my powers, I liked to pretend I was someone famous.”
Gigi chuckled. “It was odd, walking into a room and finding Abraham Lincoln sprawled on the couch watching cartoons. Of course, it was odder still when Abraham Lincoln spoke and sounded like Digger.”
“You can’t mimic someone unless you know what they sound like,” Digger explained. “I don’t know what Lincoln sounds like.”
The story would be funny if Ali wasn’t so nervous. She weighed her Copycat options. If she turned into a dog, it would seem like she was copying Digger. A squirrel was out of the question. She considered Walter Pidgeon but didn’t want Gigi making gooey eyes at her. There were so many choices it was impossible to decide.
“I don’t know what to change into,” she confessed.
Gigi nodded, as if this was to be expected. “Turn into me. No one’s ever turned into me before. It’ll be fun.” She settled against her pillows and waited.
Ali turned to Digger. “What do I do?”
“Concentrate on her features, imagine yourself becoming her,” said Digger.