Making a Splash: Whitney

by Jade Parker (248 pg)
This book is the third in a series about three girls who work at a water park during the summer. This one is told from the perspective of Whitney. She didn't know the other two girls, Robyn and Caitlin, before the summer started, and she hasn't told them much about herself. She's insecure because her old best friends had taken embarrassing pictures of her and put them on the internet. Then she finds out that the guy she likes is being paid by her dad to "watch over her". She totally freaks and stops talking to him, then refuses to talk about it with her real friends because she's paranoid that they're gonna tell the whole world. I wanted to write a letter of advice to Whitney, since she was going through a difficult time.
Dear Whitney:
I just wanted to tell you to trust people more. Even though some people are totally mean and backstabbing doesn't mean everyone is. It's okay to have fun with people like Robyn and Caitlin, people who are nice, fun, and trustworthy. If they haven't done anything to betray your trust, you can open up to them. Friends can make everything easier! Also, you should try to see things from other people's perspectives. Maybe if you had taken the time to talk to Jake about the what he's doing, you would have found out that he really did like you. Once you find real friends, you should stick with them. Don't be tempted by fakers again! Most of all, always be yourself. If someone can't accept you for who you are, you don't need them.
~Marcella