What Makes Me... Paula

Thinking back, Paula remembers just how shy and insecure she was, even before kindergarten. Mom and Dad were always hovering over her to protect her, it seemed, so she really had no idea how to make friends or face new challenges. Kindergarten was a little scary and it didn't seem to get much better in first grade either. Second and third grades brought out their own challenges, but Paula also remembered that was when she began learning about making friends. As she writes her autobiography for Ms. Rudnick, Paula begins to realize just how far she's come.

This first book in the What Makes Me... series is all about Paula, a shy and insecure elementary school student who describes how she had to learn what friendship is and how to "come out of her shell" and take chances in order to make friends. Paula blames her parents for being overprotective when she was little and how they prevented her from trying new things and making friends. Paula's classmates include the really popular kids with lots of friends, other kids who appear to be shy and insecure like her, and a few others who liked to tease or even cause trouble in class. Her teachers in those earlier grades are each different in their own way and are part of Paula's journey. The turning point for Paula is when she begins to realize what friendship is and how to take the next steps towards making friends and fitting in.