Best Friends?

Best Friends? (U.S. title: Grace's Twist) is the third book in the Summer Camp Secrets series.

UK blurb
"I'm having a lot of fun this summer at Camp Lakeview, but one thing's getting me down. Sure, people think I'm funny, but I don't have a real 'best' friend. Plus I'm having a few issues with my parents at the moment. I just wish there was someone I could talk to about it all..."

Lively and likeable Grace gets on with everyone. She loves clowning around with her bunkmates, but what she'd really like is a truly special friend - someone to share all her secrets. She starts to hang out with Gaby, a girl from a rival bunk, but when Gaby starts behaving like a bully it's time for Grace to get serious.

U.S. blurb
"I'm having a lot of fun this summer at Camp Lakeview, but things could be better. Sure, I'm really funny, but I don't have any one 'best' friend, so sometimes I feel like a third wheel. And I'm so busy with my parents 'special assignments'! I'm so ready to give up and goof off for the rest of the summer, but that's what got me into trouble the last time..."

Everyone in bunk 3C agrees that Grace Matthews is a riot-funny and silly, she's not afraid to do anything for a smile. But behind all the laughter, Grace isn't as carefree as she'd like everyone to think. She's tired of having to read all the time while everyone else gets to enjoy camp. And while she likes being everyone's friend, Grace feels lonely without a "best" friend. Maybe that's why she starts hanging out with Gaby, a girl from a rival bunk. But when Gaby starts behaving like a bully, Grace can't laugh it off. Is it finally time for Grace to get serious?

Plot
Grace half finishes a letter to her best friend Emily from home, before attempting yoga with Brynn and going with the bunk to dinner; she becomes aware that everyone in the bunk has a close friend but her. The next day, Grace and Brynn attend their drama elective, where Grace meets Gaby and partners with her. 3C find out that they and all of third division are going to a water park, WetWorld, for their field trip. Gaby offers to hang out with Grace at siesta and Grace snaps at her bunk for teasing her for becoming friends with a 3A girl.

In drama, Grace performs improv and notices a boy, Devon; Bethany encourages her to audition for the camp play. She tries to read while the rest of her bunk participate in a magazine quiz, only to give up and join in. She receives a letter from her parents and visits Gaby during siesta, only to get talked down from her. At free swim, Julie talks with Grace about her reading; Gaby overhears and tells Natalie and Alyssa. Grace sends a disappointed email to her parents, before announcing to 3C her secret: because she failed reading class in school, her parents are forcing her to read to make up for her lost grade. If she doesn't, she will not audition and she will not go on the field trip. Her bunkmates offer to help so she can catch up and join them at the water park. Her parents suggest a quiz as an ultimatum.

Grace spends her spare time reading, before she and Gaby swim together, where she learns Gaby is on a punishment. Julie and Marissa talk with her about Gaby, but she insists she is fine. Her bunkmates help her prepare for the quiz. She emails her answers to her parents and gets them all correct, granting her permission to audition and go on the field trip. In drama, Grace finds out Gaby was put into the elective as her counsellor wanted to separate her and her bunkmate; Simon and Devon allow Grace to practice with them. She tries out and earns the main role.

At WetWorld, Gaby becomes sulky and walks out of every queue she joins. Grace, becoming increasingly fed up of her behaviour, walks away and joins her bunk for some of the activities, including a Whack-a-Mole game where Devon gives her a toy Loch Ness Monster. She ignores Gaby as she boards the bus back to Lakeview.

Characters
In order of appearance:
 * Grace Matthews
 * Brynn Collins
 * Jenna Bloom
 * Marissa
 * Julie
 * Alex Kim
 * Alyssa
 * Natalie Goode
 * Gaby Parsons
 * Bethany
 * Chelsea
 * Dr. Steve
 * Devon
 * Simon