Shelby St. Clair

Shelby St. Clair has spent her entire life striving for perfection. As the poised and polished eighth-grade class president, she follows her father's strict blueprint for success: win at all costs, keep emotions in check, and never show weakness. But Shelby's polished exterior hides the weight of relentless pressure-and a growing doubt about what perfection really means.

Enter CJ James: the bold, wheelchair-rolling challenger whose messy but heartfelt campaign for inclusivity flips the script. When CJ's grassroots walkathon ignites the school with energy and purpose, Shelby is forced to confront the cracks in her own carefully built image. As the rivalry heats up, Shelby begins to question whether following the rules is really the same as leading.

Shelby St. Clair: Behind the Perfect Smile is a witty, heartfelt middle-grade novel about ambition, identity, and the courage to embrace imperfection. Perfect for fans of coming-of-age stories with humor and heart, Shelby's journey shows that the path to leadership is as unique as the leader herself.