What do you think?
Rate this book
The Only Girl in School: A Wish Novel
When Claire's best friend, Bess, moves away, she becomes the only girl left in her entire school. At first, she thinks she'll be able to deal with this -- after all, the girls' bathroom is now completely hers, so she can turn it into her own private headquarters and draw on the walls. When it comes to soccer games or sailing races, she can face off against any boy.
The problem is that her other best friend, Henry, has begun to ignore her. And Webby, a super-annoying bully, won't leave her alone. And Yucky Gilbert, the boy who has a crush on her, also won't leave her alone.
It's never easy being the only one -- and over the course of a wacky school year, Claire is going to have to make it through challenges big and small. The boys may think they rule the school, but when it comes to thinking on your feet, Claire's got them outnumbered.
The problem is that her other best friend, Henry, has begun to ignore her. And Webby, a super-annoying bully, won't leave her alone. And Yucky Gilbert, the boy who has a crush on her, also won't leave her alone.
It's never easy being the only one -- and over the course of a wacky school year, Claire is going to have to make it through challenges big and small. The boys may think they rule the school, but when it comes to thinking on your feet, Claire's got them outnumbered.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 26, 2016
44 people are currently reading
599 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Standiford
36 books416 followersNatalie Standiford, author of "Astrid Sees All," "How to Say Goodbye in Robot," "Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters," "The Secret Tree," "Switched at Birthday," "The Boy on the Bridge," and "The Only Girl in School," has written picture books, nonfiction, chapter books, teen novels, an entry in the 39 Clues series, and even horror novels for young adults. Standiford also plays bass in the rock band Tiger Beat, with fellow YA authors Libba Bray, Daniel Ehrenhaft, and Barnabas Miller.
Find out more at her web site, www.nataliestandiford.com.
Find out more at her web site, www.nataliestandiford.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
April 12, 2017
This book was not my favorite. At times I felt annoyed as well as irritated and intrigued.
However to start on a good note I loved the way the author formatted the book. Each chapter is a new letter to Claire's best friend explaining her struggles. Since Claire's "girl friend" moved away she is the only girl in school, as the title suggests. But, she does have one friend and his name is Henry.
Henry and Claire would walk to school every morning together but this year he stopped. On the first day of fifth grade Henry did not walk with Claire leaving her misplaced. I did not like this part because I thought it was a bad way to start. Henry decided to ditch Claire and become friends with Webby, the school bully. As I inferred Claire began to whine about Henry and it annoyed me so much!
Gilbert was one of my favorite characters just because I loved his attitude. Claire however was mean to Gilbert and it made me sad. Since Gilbert liked Claire she got upset. But the thing that kept me reading was the bullying. I was so intrigued at when it would end and I wanted to see where the root of all this started. For me it was really easy to tell and I did not like that. In the end this book was okay and overall a very quick read. On a scale of one to ten of recommending it to you, I would say a 5.5.
However to start on a good note I loved the way the author formatted the book. Each chapter is a new letter to Claire's best friend explaining her struggles. Since Claire's "girl friend" moved away she is the only girl in school, as the title suggests. But, she does have one friend and his name is Henry.
Henry and Claire would walk to school every morning together but this year he stopped. On the first day of fifth grade Henry did not walk with Claire leaving her misplaced. I did not like this part because I thought it was a bad way to start. Henry decided to ditch Claire and become friends with Webby, the school bully. As I inferred Claire began to whine about Henry and it annoyed me so much!
Gilbert was one of my favorite characters just because I loved his attitude. Claire however was mean to Gilbert and it made me sad. Since Gilbert liked Claire she got upset. But the thing that kept me reading was the bullying. I was so intrigued at when it would end and I wanted to see where the root of all this started. For me it was really easy to tell and I did not like that. In the end this book was okay and overall a very quick read. On a scale of one to ten of recommending it to you, I would say a 5.5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2021
See more of my reviews on The YA Kitten! My copy came from the publisher for review.
Reading has always been a solitary activity for me. As a little girl, my parents never read a book before I did to make sure it was safe for me, nor did they ever read it with me so I could discuss questionable stuff with them. Even when I was in elementary school and my fifth grade class read the entirety of Holes by Louis Sachar out loud with new students playing different roles from the book each day, I read ahead on my own. Well, The Only Girl in School is one of the very few books I’d ever think needs to be read by parent and child together. It’s important no matter the child’s gender.
I can at least see that Standiford attempted to write what Claire goes through as wild and wacky. Her utter distaste for a guy who has a crush on her, the silliness of some of Claire’s doodles, the way she talks to her best friend in their letters,… If what she was going through was actually funny, I would have laughed.
But what she goes through isn’t funny. She spends fifth grade in sexist bullying hell instead of being on an adventure as the only girl in her very small school.
See, when an environment is dominated by boys/men and there are only one or two girls/women alongside them, things aren’t fun for the girls/women. There’s a reason we talk about women in STEM so much: they’re often ostracized in those environments, which causes many of them to stop pursuing STEM studies and leads to far fewer women joining the industry later on. Men become the gatekeepers and make it even harder for women to get in.
The characters are fine. The experiences are real. Claire’s voice works as that of a fifth-grade girl. But this book is so close to normalizing sexism by characterizing it as funny and dismissing it.
One particular passage just about made me implode in righteous rage.
1) This is the first time Claire brings up anything to do with discrimination or sexism in the entire book. I think it’s the only time too.
2) WHAT THE HELL, MOM. When I was Claire’s age, I didn’t know the words “sexism” or “discrimination,” let alone recognize the concepts in practice. She should be proud of Claire for recognizing sexism and doing some critical thinking, not accusing her of looking for sexism everywhere when, again, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SHE SAYS SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HER MOM.
3) No one “looks” for discrimination, especially the people being discriminated against. They see it clear as day and are just trying to help other people see it too so they can do something about it.
Another thing to discuss with a child: how wrong it was for Claire’s mother to respond like that. When an authority figure responds to concerns about sexism like the problem doesn’t exist, that’s another way children learn that sexism is normal. It’s not normal and we should never treat it like it is. Don’t be that authority figure either.
I’m putting much more thought into this MG book than the average reader, but I don’t care. I remember being in fifth grade like Claire very vividly because boys bullied me relentlessly. No one should read this book and think that what she goes through is funny because it isn’t. If you want to teach your child what sexism is and why they should never treat anyone the way Claire’s classmates treat her, this is the text to do it with. Just make sure you thoroughly discuss it with the child. Reading it solo leaves too much room for a child to normalize sexism.
Reading has always been a solitary activity for me. As a little girl, my parents never read a book before I did to make sure it was safe for me, nor did they ever read it with me so I could discuss questionable stuff with them. Even when I was in elementary school and my fifth grade class read the entirety of Holes by Louis Sachar out loud with new students playing different roles from the book each day, I read ahead on my own. Well, The Only Girl in School is one of the very few books I’d ever think needs to be read by parent and child together. It’s important no matter the child’s gender.
I can at least see that Standiford attempted to write what Claire goes through as wild and wacky. Her utter distaste for a guy who has a crush on her, the silliness of some of Claire’s doodles, the way she talks to her best friend in their letters,… If what she was going through was actually funny, I would have laughed.
But what she goes through isn’t funny. She spends fifth grade in sexist bullying hell instead of being on an adventure as the only girl in her very small school.
See, when an environment is dominated by boys/men and there are only one or two girls/women alongside them, things aren’t fun for the girls/women. There’s a reason we talk about women in STEM so much: they’re often ostracized in those environments, which causes many of them to stop pursuing STEM studies and leads to far fewer women joining the industry later on. Men become the gatekeepers and make it even harder for women to get in.
The characters are fine. The experiences are real. Claire’s voice works as that of a fifth-grade girl. But this book is so close to normalizing sexism by characterizing it as funny and dismissing it.
One particular passage just about made me implode in righteous rage.
“Why don’t you ask Jim to help?” I asked. “He’s older.”
“Because he’s got a lot of homework to do,” Mom answered.
“You mean, because he’s a boy,” I pointed out.
Mom did not like this answer. “No, that’s not what I mean, and stop looking for discrimination everywhere. Sometimes it’s just not there.”
Easy for her to say. She wasn’t the only girl at work.
“But sometimes it is,” I said, thinking of Pow-Wow and Webby.
Mom sighed and softened–but only a little.
“Okay, yeah, sometimes it is,” she said. (p. 77)
1) This is the first time Claire brings up anything to do with discrimination or sexism in the entire book. I think it’s the only time too.
2) WHAT THE HELL, MOM. When I was Claire’s age, I didn’t know the words “sexism” or “discrimination,” let alone recognize the concepts in practice. She should be proud of Claire for recognizing sexism and doing some critical thinking, not accusing her of looking for sexism everywhere when, again, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SHE SAYS SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HER MOM.
3) No one “looks” for discrimination, especially the people being discriminated against. They see it clear as day and are just trying to help other people see it too so they can do something about it.
Another thing to discuss with a child: how wrong it was for Claire’s mother to respond like that. When an authority figure responds to concerns about sexism like the problem doesn’t exist, that’s another way children learn that sexism is normal. It’s not normal and we should never treat it like it is. Don’t be that authority figure either.
I’m putting much more thought into this MG book than the average reader, but I don’t care. I remember being in fifth grade like Claire very vividly because boys bullied me relentlessly. No one should read this book and think that what she goes through is funny because it isn’t. If you want to teach your child what sexism is and why they should never treat anyone the way Claire’s classmates treat her, this is the text to do it with. Just make sure you thoroughly discuss it with the child. Reading it solo leaves too much room for a child to normalize sexism.
February 27, 2016
2.5 stars, but I'm rounding it off to 3 stars because as annoyed as I felt at times, it was still a quick easy read.
I'm not too sure how I felt about The Only Girl in School. I suppose I enjoyed it to an extent, but there were too many things that irritated me and it almost spoiled the whole story for me.
To start off on a good note, the format the author used was interesting.
After her best girlfriend moves away to California, Claire Warren becomes the only girl in her entire school.
And so she sends her old bestie letter after later about her (straight up awful) school life with boys. Each chapter is a letter, and the book is set over one year: Claire's entire fifth grade.
Claire has no friends at all, other than a boy called Henry, who seems to have ditched her for the school bully, Webby (oh man, Claire spends the entire book whining about that - it got a bit pathetic at some point and I couldn't help but think, just forget about this douche Claire!)
There was also another boy, Gilbert, who had a crush on Claire. Claire was so rude to him and it annoyed me to see her chasing after the asshole (Henry, who admited to being a coward in the end) instead of appreciating a sweet boy like Gilbert.
I think out of the whole book I liked Gilbert the most.
The bullying. I didn't think the bullying would last almost the entire novel! It would have been so much better to see the boys develop much sooner.
Due to the constant bullying, the main girl spent most of the book complaining about, which - as much as I felt bad for her - doesn't make for a good story.
I'm not too sure how I felt about The Only Girl in School. I suppose I enjoyed it to an extent, but there were too many things that irritated me and it almost spoiled the whole story for me.
To start off on a good note, the format the author used was interesting.
After her best girlfriend moves away to California, Claire Warren becomes the only girl in her entire school.
And so she sends her old bestie letter after later about her (straight up awful) school life with boys. Each chapter is a letter, and the book is set over one year: Claire's entire fifth grade.
Claire has no friends at all, other than a boy called Henry, who seems to have ditched her for the school bully, Webby (oh man, Claire spends the entire book whining about that - it got a bit pathetic at some point and I couldn't help but think, just forget about this douche Claire!)
There was also another boy, Gilbert, who had a crush on Claire. Claire was so rude to him and it annoyed me to see her chasing after the asshole (Henry, who admited to being a coward in the end) instead of appreciating a sweet boy like Gilbert.
I think out of the whole book I liked Gilbert the most.
The bullying. I didn't think the bullying would last almost the entire novel! It would have been so much better to see the boys develop much sooner.
Due to the constant bullying, the main girl spent most of the book complaining about, which - as much as I felt bad for her - doesn't make for a good story.
March 24, 2018
So let me start off by saying,
1: I love the way the writer formats the book.
2: I am upset however how she complains about the bullies even though she bullies Gilbert.
3: She’s saying her life is so horrible but she owns a horse, goes to a nice school, plays soccer.
4: Why does she think everything is sexist her mom asks for a favor and she is like “is it cause I’m a girl?” no it’s because you’re right there.
5: I’m sorry but people with braces aren’t gross and drool, I have braces and trust me people half the time don’t even notice I have them.
6: I feel like she deserved the person who vandalized her drawings to do so because in the first place she vandalized to start out.
Anyways sorry for the rant, maybe I’m just to old for the book?
1: I love the way the writer formats the book.
2: I am upset however how she complains about the bullies even though she bullies Gilbert.
3: She’s saying her life is so horrible but she owns a horse, goes to a nice school, plays soccer.
4: Why does she think everything is sexist her mom asks for a favor and she is like “is it cause I’m a girl?” no it’s because you’re right there.
5: I’m sorry but people with braces aren’t gross and drool, I have braces and trust me people half the time don’t even notice I have them.
6: I feel like she deserved the person who vandalized her drawings to do so because in the first place she vandalized to start out.
Anyways sorry for the rant, maybe I’m just to old for the book?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2018
'The Only Girl in School' by Natalie Standiford, illustrated by Nathan Durfee, shines a light on one of the biggest fears any young person - or older person, for that matter - can have. Being the only one can sometimes be seen as a gift, in that the person is unique. Yet, the fact that Claire is the only girl in her school, owing to the fact that she lives in a small town and her best girl friend has moved away, puts a spotlight on what she only sees as inadequacies.
Coupled with the fact that she doesn't have her best friend to lean on anymore and share the woes of being the only two girls in the class, her other best friend, Henry, has become best friends with the class bully, Webby. She also has to deal with Gilbert, a boy who is nice enough to her, but only because he likes her and wants to kiss her. Her relationships with the other boys in her class, as well as with her brothers and her parents, are all predictably irritating for her. It all goes to show that no one can truly understand the plight of a fifth grade girl besides that fifth grade girl herself. Sometimes even she can't understand what's happening to her, and no one ever seems to be around to shed light on it.
As the novel progresses, she makes discoveries about herself and about her town and life in general. The story is sweetly written in the form of letters to her best friend, Bess, who has moved away. Even though we only hear Bess' responses through Claire's relating them back to Bess in her own letters, we get a sense that their friendship has survived their separation.
Both the young and young-at-heart will enjoy this story about trying to hold it together in the face of adversity. Readers will find themselves rooting for Claire and hoping that things work out in her favor, even though that doesn't happen all of the time.
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels
*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*
Coupled with the fact that she doesn't have her best friend to lean on anymore and share the woes of being the only two girls in the class, her other best friend, Henry, has become best friends with the class bully, Webby. She also has to deal with Gilbert, a boy who is nice enough to her, but only because he likes her and wants to kiss her. Her relationships with the other boys in her class, as well as with her brothers and her parents, are all predictably irritating for her. It all goes to show that no one can truly understand the plight of a fifth grade girl besides that fifth grade girl herself. Sometimes even she can't understand what's happening to her, and no one ever seems to be around to shed light on it.
As the novel progresses, she makes discoveries about herself and about her town and life in general. The story is sweetly written in the form of letters to her best friend, Bess, who has moved away. Even though we only hear Bess' responses through Claire's relating them back to Bess in her own letters, we get a sense that their friendship has survived their separation.
Both the young and young-at-heart will enjoy this story about trying to hold it together in the face of adversity. Readers will find themselves rooting for Claire and hoping that things work out in her favor, even though that doesn't happen all of the time.
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels
*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*
July 5, 2016
Being one of a kind might be empowering for some individuals, but when fifth grader Claire Warren turns out to be the only girl in her entire school, she feels increasingly isolated. In the past, she and her best friend Bess were able to cope with having all boys as their classmates, but now that Bess has moved to San Francisco, Claire feels rather lost without her, and sends her regular reports about what's been going on. The author's decision to include Claire's letters and not Bess's responses is interesting but works just fine here. From the start, it's clear that things wouldn't have been nearly as hard if Claire's other good friend, Henry Long, hadn't started hanging out with Webby and avoiding her. As she continues to pursue the activities she does so well, including soccer and sailing, she also tries to solve the mystery of who's been defacing her artwork in the bathroom--reserved for girls only--while fending off the unwanted attentions of Yucky Gilbert. What a unique experience Claire has in attending a school on Foyes Island Elementary in Maryland without having any female peers on which to draw for support. When the reasons for Henry's desertion are revealed, readers won't be surprised since that sort of teasing about boys and girls often happens. As I read this one, I kept asking myself, "Why can't boys and girls be friends without all that relationship drama that comes with romance?" As this book shows, maybe they can. Despite the complaining that Claire does, she somehow manages to make it through that tough year just fine, maybe being forced to draw on reserves she didn't realize she had to endure and make the best of things. Although the book is filled with lots of humor, it also raises some important issues about gender roles and friendship that are worth exploring with others.
Read
January 30, 2016I am a huge fan of Natalie Standiford's and have been since I read her YA novel How to Stay Goodbye in Robot. Lately she's been writing more MG than YA, but they're still amazing. This one is no exception.
I feel so awful for Claire: she's the only girl in her elementary school. (Okay, it's not as bad as it would be if you were the only girl in high school or, even worse, middle school. But still---awkward!)
And it doesn't help that it's the age where most guys treat her like she's got some sort of disease, even Henry (her other best friend).
This book is still completely adorable and very, very fun. (AND there's a mystery about a local legend named Smuggler Joe who may or may not have left treasure around.)
Highly recommended.
I feel so awful for Claire: she's the only girl in her elementary school. (Okay, it's not as bad as it would be if you were the only girl in high school or, even worse, middle school. But still---awkward!)
And it doesn't help that it's the age where most guys treat her like she's got some sort of disease, even Henry (her other best friend).
This book is still completely adorable and very, very fun. (AND there's a mystery about a local legend named Smuggler Joe who may or may not have left treasure around.)
Highly recommended.
March 11, 2016
This is a cute little story (even if it's a little bit far-fetched). I think 4th and 5th grade girls would especially enjoy it. The fact that the girl tells her story by writing letters to her best friend who has moved away made reading this story pleasurable and authentic.
October 16, 2016
A really good book for learning how to be the ONLY ONE!
October 23, 2016
how can fifth grade be if you are the only girl in the class? answer...read the book which is easier than surviving fifth grade
June 6, 2020
Great book about friends, enemys and the girls bathroom!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2018
How do you think you would feel if no one liked you and your best friend acted like they didn't know who you are? The book I read is called “The only girl in school” and it’s written by Natalie Standiford. The Genre of this book is Realistic fiction.
Some characters in my book are Claire, Henry, Webby, and Gilbert. This book is broken down into four parts the four parts represent the different seasons of the school year. Here are a few details from each part.
Part 1: Claire's first day of school. Yucky Gilbert sits beside her. Yucky Gilbert is a boy who has a crush on Claire and Claire does not like him because Gilbert stares at her and drools at her but he gets over her through the school year.
Part 2: Her class did a school Christmas play and it was “A Christmas Carol” Claire had to play 5 Parts in the play.
Part 3: Was one of the boy's birthday parties at a bowling alley and so Claire took Gabe her younger brother to the same alley the boys were at for the birthday party. Then there's a square dance that they have every year at Foyes Island school and none of the boys want to go. So when Claire went she was the only student there. Then there's Claire's birthday and she makes an invitation and sends it to people in her class and no one responds to her invitation because it's all boys in school so when it's the day of the party no one comes to Claire's party.
Part 4: They have a social studies project that they can't decide on which topic to choose Henry wants to do the same idea as Claire.Another chapter is about Claire making history about her being the only girl in the entire school and how fifth grade is over.
I liked it because it is about friendship and adventure and I think that this book is more towards girls but boys could read it if they wanted to but I think girls take things more seriously than guys.
Some characters in my book are Claire, Henry, Webby, and Gilbert. This book is broken down into four parts the four parts represent the different seasons of the school year. Here are a few details from each part.
Part 1: Claire's first day of school. Yucky Gilbert sits beside her. Yucky Gilbert is a boy who has a crush on Claire and Claire does not like him because Gilbert stares at her and drools at her but he gets over her through the school year.
Part 2: Her class did a school Christmas play and it was “A Christmas Carol” Claire had to play 5 Parts in the play.
Part 3: Was one of the boy's birthday parties at a bowling alley and so Claire took Gabe her younger brother to the same alley the boys were at for the birthday party. Then there's a square dance that they have every year at Foyes Island school and none of the boys want to go. So when Claire went she was the only student there. Then there's Claire's birthday and she makes an invitation and sends it to people in her class and no one responds to her invitation because it's all boys in school so when it's the day of the party no one comes to Claire's party.
Part 4: They have a social studies project that they can't decide on which topic to choose Henry wants to do the same idea as Claire.Another chapter is about Claire making history about her being the only girl in the entire school and how fifth grade is over.
I liked it because it is about friendship and adventure and I think that this book is more towards girls but boys could read it if they wanted to but I think girls take things more seriously than guys.
April 8, 2022
Told entirely from the POV of one Claire Warren, this book deals with her dilemmas as she struggles to deal with being the only girl in a school term composed almost entirely of boys. The school is so small that it’s only ever had two girls in it every year and this year Claire is alone.
Claire is spunky, smart and determined. She writes diligently to her former school chum, Bess, the girl who moved away to California. She wants to reconcile with Henry, a boy who was friends with her before inexplicably joining up with other boys to tease or ignore her. She doesn’t understand the constant food fights in the cafeteria or why the boys cheer her when she helps them win a soccer game only to resume their indifferent or hostile treatment afterwards. The only boy who’s marginally on her side is Yucky Gilbert, a slobbery tick who’s always trying to kiss her even though she tells him not to do it.
Claire doesn’t try to understand the rationale behind the boys’s attitude. She’s no psychoanalyst or suffragette; she’s just a kid. Even though this book is printed in 2016, Claire obviously hasn’t heard of sexual harassment or she’d report Yucky Gilbert. She’s miserable, lonely, missing her best girlfriend fiercely and the adults around her are no help.
But she doesn’t hold back when it comes to sailing, riding her horse, drawing her pictures or pushing to get her way on a class project. You admire her grit, her will to endure the low-level abuse and the indifference of the grown-ups. She pushes ahead to get what she wants, even with a whole bunch of boys siding against her. This makes for one terrific story of affirmation for young girls or anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider.
Claire is spunky, smart and determined. She writes diligently to her former school chum, Bess, the girl who moved away to California. She wants to reconcile with Henry, a boy who was friends with her before inexplicably joining up with other boys to tease or ignore her. She doesn’t understand the constant food fights in the cafeteria or why the boys cheer her when she helps them win a soccer game only to resume their indifferent or hostile treatment afterwards. The only boy who’s marginally on her side is Yucky Gilbert, a slobbery tick who’s always trying to kiss her even though she tells him not to do it.
Claire doesn’t try to understand the rationale behind the boys’s attitude. She’s no psychoanalyst or suffragette; she’s just a kid. Even though this book is printed in 2016, Claire obviously hasn’t heard of sexual harassment or she’d report Yucky Gilbert. She’s miserable, lonely, missing her best girlfriend fiercely and the adults around her are no help.
But she doesn’t hold back when it comes to sailing, riding her horse, drawing her pictures or pushing to get her way on a class project. You admire her grit, her will to endure the low-level abuse and the indifference of the grown-ups. She pushes ahead to get what she wants, even with a whole bunch of boys siding against her. This makes for one terrific story of affirmation for young girls or anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider.
November 17, 2018
Claire Warren is the only girl in the ENTIRE elementary school on Foyes Island. Her best friend Bess moves away just before 5th grade, leaving her alone in a school of boys. Her other friend, Henry, ditches her just before the start of school. Claire is feeling positively horrible. And, no kidding, it just gets worse. The gym teacher and other teachers discriminate her for being a girl, Gilbert has a huuuge crush on Claire (eeeew), and Webby, the school bully, won't leave her alone.
I found this book to be an easy, funny, light read. Of course, like most books, there were parts that annoyed me. What exactly happened with Claire and that deer who was supposedly Smuggler Joe and TALKED TO HER?? The entire book suddenly turned to fantasy instead of realistic fiction! So confused.
I love the way this book was written through letters to Beth, though. You can definitely feel Claire's pain and sometimes you want to laugh, smile, or just sob for her. This was such an original idea for a book. I'd recommend this book for kids ages 8-12, as a quick easy read. Probably about 4th grade level reading.
I found this book to be an easy, funny, light read. Of course, like most books, there were parts that annoyed me. What exactly happened with Claire and that deer who was supposedly Smuggler Joe and TALKED TO HER?? The entire book suddenly turned to fantasy instead of realistic fiction! So confused.
I love the way this book was written through letters to Beth, though. You can definitely feel Claire's pain and sometimes you want to laugh, smile, or just sob for her. This was such an original idea for a book. I'd recommend this book for kids ages 8-12, as a quick easy read. Probably about 4th grade level reading.
May 25, 2020
I loved the book
I don’t understand why everyone is “irritated” by the fact that Claire is the only girl in school and bullies bully because I hate to break it to you, but bullies exist and sometimes they’re even worse. I think Natalie was trying to bring awareness to the concept of bullying and sexism towards girls. Overall I loved the book and it was a quick read. I found it interesting and fun too. Claire is faced with many problems in the school year, (just as all human beings), but in the end it all works out. Life isn’t perfect, and I love that the author showed this in the book. Many people are complaining that Claire was complaining almost in all the letters to her friend, on the other hand, I think she was just trying to tell her friend about the events in her life, and let’s face it, everyone whines sometimes. I didn’t find it annoying at all and give it the full 5 stars. I was always really excited to see what would happen next. I loved the part when they all found Smuggler Joe’s treasure map and was super happy for them. Definitely would recommend.
I don’t understand why everyone is “irritated” by the fact that Claire is the only girl in school and bullies bully because I hate to break it to you, but bullies exist and sometimes they’re even worse. I think Natalie was trying to bring awareness to the concept of bullying and sexism towards girls. Overall I loved the book and it was a quick read. I found it interesting and fun too. Claire is faced with many problems in the school year, (just as all human beings), but in the end it all works out. Life isn’t perfect, and I love that the author showed this in the book. Many people are complaining that Claire was complaining almost in all the letters to her friend, on the other hand, I think she was just trying to tell her friend about the events in her life, and let’s face it, everyone whines sometimes. I didn’t find it annoying at all and give it the full 5 stars. I was always really excited to see what would happen next. I loved the part when they all found Smuggler Joe’s treasure map and was super happy for them. Definitely would recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2019
This was a cute little read about (as the title clearly states) a girl who is the only girl in school. Claire lives on a tiny island and attends a very small elementary school--and when her best friend moves away, she is LITERALLY the only girl left in her school. There are some perks (a bathroom to herself, getting all the female parts in the school play), but mostly it's no fun at all. The boys are pretty terrible to her (including her former friend Henry), and some of the teachers don't seem to know what to do with her.
I didn't think the whole Smuggler Joe mystery element really added to the story, and it felt wholly undeveloped...I honestly could have done without it completely. Claire's "only girl in school" role provided enough drama and storylines to keep me entertained. I would have eventually liked to meet her friend Bess (who we only know exists through letters), and there's not much family development, but I liked the story overall.
I didn't think the whole Smuggler Joe mystery element really added to the story, and it felt wholly undeveloped...I honestly could have done without it completely. Claire's "only girl in school" role provided enough drama and storylines to keep me entertained. I would have eventually liked to meet her friend Bess (who we only know exists through letters), and there's not much family development, but I liked the story overall.
April 7, 2018
This book was quite a light read. One of the things that I didn't like was the format it was written in. The author used letters Claire (the only girl in the school) wrote to her best friend , to tell the story. What I thought was bad about this was that Bess ( Claire's Best Friend), didn't have reply letters in this book. So it seemed slightly weird when Claire talked about Bess's reply letters. The overall storyline was not that bad when you actually get into it. I think that this book will be suitable for primary students, since it's not quite complicated but yet interesting.
May 20, 2019
Claire's best friend Bess moves to San Francisco the summer after fourth grade. That leaves only Henry, Calvin, Gilbert, Webster, Kevin, Zach M., Zach. R. and Claire to make up the entire fifth grade class at Foyes Island Elementary School in Maryland. It's bad enough to be the only girl in her class, but it gets worse; she is the only girl in the entire school! Can Claire survive a school year with all boys? Can she hold her own in rowing, soccer, square dancing and the school play?
Told through letters that she writes to Bess, fans of school stories will enjoy this one.
Told through letters that she writes to Bess, fans of school stories will enjoy this one.
December 17, 2016
"Claire finds herself the only girl in her school at the beginning of fifth grade. Evidently no one in her town had daughters for years or else they moved out of town. That seemed improbable. The opening scenes in which boys are giving Claire a difficult time and adults are ignoring it were a little disturbing, too."
Excerpt from Original Content.
Excerpt from Original Content.
February 4, 2019
The Only Girl in School may seem far-fetched, but it's done well. The island setting is charming and Claire is a likable, strong main character. Only two quibbles--the attempt to spin in some supernatural elements seems a bit out of place, and I feel like the book could have gone deeper into the sexism and stereotypes Claire encounters.
October 7, 2020
Perfect book for girls
I really love this book, it is so special and very interesting. I like that the book isn’t like some others that keep on going in a boring way but it keeps you interested. The one thing that I am upset is that I couldn’t find a second book of the serie( I don’t think there is one) so I hope she writes a second book.
I really love this book, it is so special and very interesting. I like that the book isn’t like some others that keep on going in a boring way but it keeps you interested. The one thing that I am upset is that I couldn’t find a second book of the serie( I don’t think there is one) so I hope she writes a second book.
February 5, 2018
The story of Claire Warren being literally the only girl in school. She goes through obstacles like having her Best guy friend avoiding her. The most irritating boy bothering her 24/7. As well as having a boy sneak in the girls bathroom to draw mean things that aren't even true.
December 28, 2020
This book was very motivational to me! I thought the protagonist really leapt out of the stereotypical elementary school girl and became a young women girls only imagine of being! Recommend this book to girls 10-13!
September 20, 2021
This book was entertaining and covered a lot of social challenges (friend moving away, being different, losing a friend, etc.). I particularly liked that it was written in letter format. This would be a great read for 5th graders.
September 13, 2024
Love so many of the ideas for format and plot but the execution could have been so much stronger. Cute enough but some plot lines were awkwardly dropped and others picked up randomly, including side characters and their contributions to the plot.
October 18, 2017
It is so different from her personality trying to figure out what others are feeling is impossible.
November 9, 2017
Super fun, especially for tomboys.
February 14, 2018
I really liked that there was a lot of Details and small moments
February 22, 2018
This was such a great quick read, and it was actually kind of sad. I highly recommend it for people who like (somewhat) realistic fiction.
May 29, 2019
It was really good.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews