The Only Girl in School

Gr 3–6—Ten-year-old Claire Warren has a rocky start to the school year. Her best girl friend, Bess, has moved away, and good pal Henry is suddenly too cool to hang out with a girl. Now, Claire must figure out how to negotiate the tricky landscape that is fifth grade—as the only remaining girl in school. Claire's story is recounted through her letters to Bess, which she supplements by re-creating her drawings from the school bathroom wall (she has the girls' bathroom to herself, after all). Standiford successfully taps into the feeling of growing up on a small East Coast island. Claire has a strong voice and authentic dialogue. Her strength of character shines as she faces challenges with humor and resilience. The plot covers a lot of ground—a birthday party, a school dance, soccer games, sailing competitions, and even the appearance of a pirate ghost. There are implausible moments, but the courage in Claire's consistent refusal to change herself to please others always feels genuine.