  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 01/01/2016 When Claire’s best friend, Bess, moves from tiny Foyes Island, in Maryland, to San Francisco, Claire finds herself in an unusual position. Not only is she the only girl in the fifth grade, she’s the only girl in the whole school! There are some perks; for example, she has the girls’ bathroom entirely to herself, and she gets all the female roles in the class production of A Christmas Carol. Mostly, though, it’s miserable. Her other best friend, Henry, is giving her a very cold shoulder, and all of the boys, each of whom has a nicely distinct character, ignore her or tease her mercilessly. One exception is “Yucky” Gilbert, who has a huge crush on her, though he’s kindhearted, helpful, and doesn’t follow the crowd. Narrating the story through letters to Bess, Claire is well-rounded and asserts herself admirably. Though a subplot involving the ghost of a smuggler and buried treasure is somewhat intrusive, it doesn’t detract too much from the story about Claire’s determination. Durfee’s illustrations support the narrative admirably. - Copyright 2016 Booklist. School Library Journal - 01/01/2016 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. VERDICT An engaging tale of unwavering self-acceptance. Readers will laugh out loud and emerge from the story satisfied with the cheerful resolution.—Alyssa Annico,Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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