Dare to Dream

In Betty Jo Schuler's young adult novel Dare to Dream, published by Books We Love, Kaitlin Thomas's best friend Melinda Vest is beautiful with skin the color of coffee ice cream. Tall for eleven, she walks with her shoulders thrown back like she owns the world and plans to become a model. Vanilla, plain, and shy, Kait doesn't have enough self-confidence to walk down the aisle in her own mother's wedding. Add an adorable, mod stepsister-to-be, who's also in the wedding, and the mix gets scarier. A pesky boy, Izzy Bean, taunts Kait into signing up at Star Modeling, where she gains poise. Then she wins a Dream Wedding for her mom and Vic Margola.

When Kaitlin Thomas finally overcomes her shyness, she's forced to do it in front of the whole world, but her best friend Melinda cheers her on as she finally dares to dream.